The conservative Madison Project is endorsing Rep. Paul Broun Paul Collins BrounHundreds apply to fill Isakson's Senate seat in Georgia Joe Lieberman's son running for Senate in Georgia California lawmaker's chief of staff resigns after indictment MORE's (R-Ga.) Senate bid, giving him a potential boost in a crowded primary field.

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"Almost every Republican runs as a solid conservative in red state primaries, but nobody has a stronger record than Paul Broun," said Madison Project Chairman Jim Ryun. "Paul Broun has one of the most conservative voting records of any Member of Congress this generation — and his record extends to all policy issues."

The Madison Project is the latest conservative group to back Broun — he also has the support of Citizens United. But he has yet to win the backing of the Club for Growth, the most powerful and deep-pocketed of the national conservative groups.

Broun is facing off against Reps. Jack Kingston (R-Ga.) and Phil Gingrey (R-Ga.), former Georgia Secretary of State Karen Handel (R) and businessman David Perdue (R) in the primary.

Establishment Republicans see the controversial Broun as a fatally flawed candidate who could cost them the seat in the conservative state if he's the nominee. The congressman has made a number of comments over the years that have drawn attention, including repeated claims that President Obama is a socialist and a communist and a 2012 comment that evolution and the Big Bang theory were "lies straight from the pit of Hell."

He's shown some strength in early polls of the race, but has struggled with fundraising and has just $200,000 in the bank, while some of his opponents have millions.

Democrats have united around former charity executive Michelle Nunn as their candidate.