Rep. Joe Wilson (R-S.C.) has endorsed former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, giving the GOP presidential candidate a major boost in a key early primary state.

This is Pawlenty’s first Congressional endorsement outside of the Minnesota delegation.

Pawlenty’s campaign announced Thursday morning that Wilson will serve as co-chairman for his Palmetto State efforts.

“Governor Pawlenty is the best man to get our nation back on the right track,” Wilson said in a statement released by the Pawlenty campaign. “As South Carolinians get to know Governor Pawlenty, as I have, they will see someone with a remarkable record of conservative accomplishments in a politically tough state for Republicans, and someone who has the kind of bold vision for America’s future that we need to defeat Barack Obama.”

Wilson is best known for shouting “You lie!” at Obama during the president’s speech to a joint session of Congress on health care reform in 2009. The moment has been used for fundraising on both the left and right.

CNN first broke the news of Wilson’s endorsement Wednesday.