Michele Bachmann endorses Richard Mourdock in Indiana Senate race

Michele Bachmann on Wednesday afternoon publicly endorsed Richard Mourdock, the candidate who is running against her colleague, Sen. Dick Lugar, in the Indiana Senate primary, which takes place next Tuesday.

"I am happy to endorse Richard Mourdock for the U.S. Senate today," the Minnesota congresswoman and former 2012 presidential candidate said in a statement. "Richard is a true conservative and we can count on him to stand up for Constitutional conservatives values."

Bachmann's support recently follows that of another tea party heavyweight: Sarah Palin endorsed Mourdock on Friday. Bachmann, Palin and other tea party-affiliated politicians made waves during the 2010 midterm elections by siding with conservative challengers over establishment Republicans.

Bachmann's endorsement was the second major announcement from the Mourdock campaign on Wednesday.

Earlier in the day, Mourdock received the endorsement of Grover Norquist, a longtime influential conservative and president of Americans for Tax Reform.

Mourdock is backed by FreedomWorks, the Club for Growth, the National Rifle Association's Political Victory Fund and others who argue that Lugar has grown too moderate to represent Indiana.

More popular Yahoo! News stories:

Pro-Romney super PAC begins $4.3 million ad buy

Obama on bin Laden raid: 'Single most important day' of my presidency

In Maraniss excerpts, Obama's ex-girlfriend recalls his 'sexual warmth' and charm but also his detachment

Want more of our best political stories? Visit The Ticket or connect with us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or add us on Tumblr. Handy with a camera? Join our Election 2012 Flickr group to submit your photos of the campaign in action.