Maine Treasurer Bruce Poliquin (R) today picked up an endorsement from the conservative group, FreedomWorks PAC.

It is an early indicator that he may be the next conservative Senate primary candidate that Washington, D.C.-based tea party groups coalesce around, although the window is narrowing. The primary is on June 12.

“He immediately took on Maine’s debt-ridden pension system and managed to save taxpayers $1.7 billion, and he has been relentless in rooting out wasteful government spending,” he added. “I look forward to Bruce Poliquin doing the same to the federal budget.”

The frontrunner to succeed retiring Sen. Olympia Snowe (R) is former Gov. Angus King (I), who has yet to reveal which party he would caucus with on Capitol Hill if elected on Nov. 6.

Former state Senate President Rick Bennett, state Attorney General William Schneider and Maine Secretary of State Charlie Summers also are vying for the GOP nod. State Sen. Cynthia Dill and former Maine Secretary of State Matt Dunlap are running for the Democratic nomination.

Roll Call rates this race as Leans Independent.