Conservative group endorses Mike Lee for Senate

A national conservative group headed by former U.S. House Majority Leader Dick Armey is endorsing Mike Lee in Utah's U.S. Senate race.

FreedomWorks PAC, which says it fights for lower taxes, less government and more freedom, said in a statement Thursday that it is supporting Lee because incumbent Sen. Bob Bennett, R-Utah, "abandoned fiscal conservatism long ago." The group attacked Bennett's support of the bailout of financial firms and his proposals for health care reform.

Armey said Lee's candidacy "represents another opportunity for the true-blue conservative, limited-government advocates to elevate a serious reformer rooted in free-market policy over an establishment politician."

Armey added, "Lee's passion for constitutionally limited government and market-based policy reform is clear. I believe he is someone who can emerge as a leader for fiscal discipline on the national stage."

The group also praised Lee's commitment to limited government and his call for a "flat tax."

Armey was House majority leader and essentially the No. 2 House Republican at the same time that Newt Gingrich was the speaker of the House. Gingrich has endorsed Bennett and traveled to Utah earlier this month for Bennett's formal campaign kickoff and for a fundraiser.

— Lee Davidson