Palin Stumps For Tea Party’s Maness

CROWN POINT, La. (AP) — Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin urged Louisiana voters to support tea party candidate Rob Maness in his underdog bid for the U.S. Senate.

Palin attended an event Saturday for Maness at Restaurant des Familles in Crown Point. About 100 people joined Palin and Maness in eating a variety of alligator-inspired foods.

Maness, a retired Air Force colonel and tea party supporter, and Republican U.S. Rep. Bill Cassidy are trying to stir up enough support to keep Democratic U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu from a fourth term.

NOLA.com/The Times-Picayune reports Palin told the crowd that Maness has an additional challenge of going up against the GOP establishment. She says Maness is standing up for the average, hardworking American who is saying, "The status quo has got to go."