Former governor and vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin campaigned on behalf of Republican senatorial candidate Steve Lonegan of New Jersey on Saturday, telling the crowd that the "eyes of America" are watching the state's election, Newsday reported.
Palin attended a campaign event at the New Egypt Speedway for Lonegan, who faces tough opposition from Democratic candidate Mayor Cory Booker who leads the polls by double digits. The election will take place on Oct. 16 to fill the seat left behind from the late Democratic Senator Frank Lautenberg.
Alaska's former governor told the audience -- estimated to be full of 2,000 people by the Tea Party -- that they can defy the challenge of a Republican winning in a heavily blue state.
"You have the momentum with Steve's campaign," she said. "The rest of the country knows."
Palin also told the crowd about her trip to Washington she planned for the following day to complain to lawmakers for using "hard-earned tax money to barricade the memorials" during the shutdown, which she referred to as a "slimdown" of the "bloated" government.
She also emphasized Lonegan's track record of criticizing the Affordable Care Act. He told voters that he wants to "join those conservatives who stand up for constitutional rights."
"A win in New Jersey on Wednesday, which we will have," Lonegan said, "will be the shot heard 'round the world."
Silvia Alvarez, a spokeswoman for Booker's campaign, responded to the statement released by Lonegan announcing Palin's participation in his campaign event.
"If voters had any doubt about how out of touch Steve Lonegan's values are with the values of most New Jerseyans, Sarah Palin's endorsement puts that to rest," Alvarez said. "Like Mr. Lonegan, she wants to ban abortions, even in cases of rape and incest, doesn't believe in climate change and opposes common sense measures to make our streets safer, like expanded background checks for gun purchases."
The rally for the Republican candidate was held one day after Lonegan fired Rick Shaftan, a former adviser, who condemned Booker in an interview by questioning his sexuality.
Booker was also campaigning on Saturday, although events were cancelled on Thursday and Friday following the death of his father. The Mayor of Newark traveled around northern New Jersey while Lonegan remained in the central region.
