Journalist and frequent Spectator contributor Quin Hillyer, now running to represent Alabama’s 1st Congressional District in Congress, has picked up a big endorsement from Rick Santorum.

This matters: While Santorum fell short in last year’s GOP presidential primary, recall that he did win the Alabama primary by a respectable margin. In areas like Washington County — part of the district in which Hillyer is running — Santorum pulled in 38 percent of the vote.

“I’ve gotten to know Quin over the last few years and have been enormously impressed with his willingness to fearlessly and without hesitation advance the conservative cause,” Santorum says in a news release. “As a critic of Washington business-as-usual, Quin will bring that same courageous approach as an advocate for free markets, limited government and reform of the welfare and tax system to Congress.”

The release also hints that Santorum could stump for Hillyer at campaign events.

“Washington needs folks like Quin who understand that we must strengthen our economy, stand up for traditional values and promote American exceptionalism,” Santorum says. “I look forward to joining Quin on the campaign trail and sharing with Alabamians why he is the right conservative for this important House seat.”

Readers here will know that Hillyer was a Santorum booster throughout the 2012 primary race.