Clint Didier has something that the 10 or so other GOP candidates looking to challenge Patty Murray for the U.S. Senate don't have... and we're not talking about Super Bowl rings here.

Support from Sarah Palin.

The former Alaska governor and Republican vice presidential candidate tweeted "be inspired by patriot running for U.S.Senate to serve his state & our country for all the right reasons!Go #86."

The number is a reference to Didier's NFL jersey, not a shout out to Special Agent Maxwell Smart.

This could definitely be considered an up and down week for Didier, with this being the high point, and a news report earlier in the week that the opponent of federal government spending is himself the recipient of some six figures worth of subsidies and other farm program payments from the federal government.

The ever-vigilant Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee took a break from firing volleys at not-yet candidate Dino Rossi to call Didier the "Tea Party candidate." Which isn't really a slam in some parts of the state.

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