Bachmann weighs in on this weekend's 1st District GOP fight

Republican U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann told local Republicans they should send GOP First District candidate Allen Quist to join her in Washington.

Quist will face off against fellow Republican state Sen. Mike Parry this weekend in an endorsement fight. The winner will have the GOP blessing to battle Democratic U.S. Rep. Tim Walz in the southern Minnesota district.

In a letter to delegates to the First District convention, Bachmann said that she has known Quist for years and said he is someone they can trust.

"I don't have to tell you that trust is a rare commodity in today's political world," her letter said. Quist and Bachmann have worked together for years and Quist's wife Julie worked as Bachmann's district director for three years.

Parry on Wednesday released a list of 17 "grassroots" supporters who back his campaign.

"Our campaign is driven by the grassroots, and these local leaders agree that I'm the electable conservative who can defeat Congressman Tim Walz in November," Parry of Waseca said in a statement. "The campaign has support of delegates from across the Republican spectrum -- liberty-minded activists, freshman legislators, veteran lawmakers, longtime Party activists, college students, and Tea Party supporters."

First District Republican will hold their endorsing convention in Mankato on Saturday.