(KOH) – Republican Danny Tarkanian is taking on Senator Dean Heller in the GOP primary next year and it’s shaping up as as another tough campaign, but Tarkanian got a major boost last week.

Early polls show the two running neck-and-neck, but that was before former Alaska Governor and vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin pledged her support to Tarkanian. In a statement, Palin said she sees Tarkanian as a “conservative outsider” who will support “America First” policies, which includes building the border wall, ending sanctuary cities and repealing Obamacare. Palin’s endorsement of Donald Trump before the Iowa caucus last year solidified the president’s position with conservatives.

Tarkanian has aligned himself closely with Trump, while Heller has distanced himself from the president on some issues.

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