Look closely at last week's pictures of Clint Didier meeting Sarah Palin in the Tri-Cities, and Spokane residents might recognize another familiar face.

State Rep. Matt Shea, R-Spokane Valley.

Shea accompanied Didier on the quick trip from the state GOP convention in Vancouver to the Tri-Cities when the U.S. Senate candidate had a meeting the former Alaska governor and vice presidential nominee.

Shea said this week he got a chance to meet Palin and mention a few state issues, but mostly Didier talked to her about federal issues. "She's a terrific lady...very gracious."

After the meeting, Palin said she was firmly behind Didier in part because he "didn't wait to see what the lineup looked like" a not-so-veiled diss of GOP rival Dino Rossi.

So is Palin going to endorse Shea, too? It'd be a fairly safe endorsement, considering he's running unopposed for a second term in the Valley's 4th Legislative District.

Not likely, Shea said. "She's focused more at the federal level." And he was there for Didier, so it really didn't come up.

Shea's a big Didier supporter. Since he'll have some time on his hands this campaign season, he'll be travelling around the state campaigning for other candidates. There's no plans at this point, however, for him to campaign with Didier, he added.

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