Rand Paul to Campaign with Senate Candidate Lonegan

Steve Lonegan is getting the backing of a major national political figure.

Kentucky Senator Rand Paul would be stumping for the former Bogota mayor on his campaign for a seat in the U.S. Senate, multiple news reports have reported.

The Lonegan campaign announced that Paul would endorse the Republican candidate at an appearance in Clark on Sept. 13.

Lonegan has been trailing Newark Mayor Cory Booker in a poll released late last month.

Paul and Gov. Chris Christie, both potential 2016 presidential contenders, have bickered publicly over issues like national defense and pork barrel spending. 

Paul even called Christie the "king of bacon" in a recent interview. 

Booker and Lonegan, not to be out-bickered, locked horns last month when Lonegan responded to comments Booker made about his personal life.

Booker won the Democratic nomination in June for the U.S. Senate seat that opened up after the death of Sen. Frank Lautenberg. He’s running against the Teaneck-born Lonegan, the Republican pick and a Tea Party favorite.

Gov. Chris Christie in June called for special elections to fill the U.S. Senate vacancy instead of adding the question to the ballot in the November general election, when Christie will by vying for re-election.

Critics decried the Christie's move, calling it an unnecessary expense of at least $24 million. A lawsuit to block Christie’s decision was struck down by the state Supreme Court.