Pat loves Mark

CARSON CITY -- The 1950s teen idol Pat Boone announced Tuesday that an organization he represents has endorsed former state Sen. Mark Amodei as its choice for Congress in the special Sept. 13 election.

Boone, who does not live in Nevada, serves as spokesman for the 60 Plus Association, a senior citizen group. Amodei faces Democrat Kate Marshall in the race to fill a vacancy in the 2nd Congressional District.

Calling Amodei a “fighter for the elderly,” Boone said: “I’m still singing at concerts, but today I am singing the praises of Mark Amodei.”

Boone, 77, and his wife, Shirley, have been married for 55 years and reside in Beverly Hills. He had a string of hit songs and teen movies in the 1950s.

Boone said Amodei can be counted on to protect Social Security and Medicare and will be a "tax cutter, protecting the pocket books of senior citizens.'"

But Marshall in a Monday news conference questioned whether Amodei and Republicans will protect Social Security and Medicare, contending she will be a fighter to protect those programs.

Amodei, however, has issued a TV advertisement calling for his continued support for Medicare. He voted for a resolution in the Legislature in 2009 calling for continued support for Medicare. A campaign aide said he will make his positions on Medicare and Social Security clearer in coming days.