The most famous "mama grizzly" in politics is throwing her support behind the pig farmer in the Republican primary for Senate in Iowa.
Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin endorsed Iowa Republican U.S. Senate candidate Joni Ernst on Wednesday, two days after Ernst released an ad highlighting her childhood castrating hogs on a farm in Iowa as the ideal preparation for cutting pork spending in Washington.
"Growing up on a hog farm in Southwest Iowa, Joni has taken her 'pork cutting' skills to the Iowa State Senate where she has been a champion for life, small government, and lower taxes -- voting for the largest tax cut in Iowa history," Palin wrote on her Facebook page Wednesday, advising fans to go check out Ernst's new ad.
The "Squeal" ad has been viewed more than a quarter million times on YouTube since Ernst released it on Tuesday.
Praising her service in the National Guard, Palin described Ernst as a "a fighter for freedom," and encouraged Iowans to "send this Midwest Mama Grizzly roaring to Washington on her Harley" in her plea.
Currently serving in the state senate, Ernst is one of five candidates vying to become the Republican nominee trying to flip outgoing Sen. Tom Harkin's seat from blue to red. The Republican candidate will likely face Rep. Bruce Braley, the only Democrat currently in the race. Although the most recent polling from the Des Moines Register shows none of the Republican candidates standing out from the pack among voters, Ernst has since picked up two major endorsements, having earned Romney's support earlier this month.
Palin's endorsement has made a difference in the past. She supported Sen. Deb Fischer early in her 2012 election campaign, helping propel the Nebraska Republican to win outgoing Democratic Sen. Bob Kerrey's seat over Democrat Ben Nelson.