Note: Updated at 2 p.m. with comments from Democratic party.

Republican Dino Rossi picked up more endorsements today that could carry cash and conservative cachet for the Aug. 17 primary and beyond.

But Democrats quickly attacked the endorsements as evidence that Rossi is seriously out-of-step with mainstream voters.

Sen. Jim DeMint, R-South Carolina, announced he's backing Rossi via a statement from his Senate Conservatives Fund.

Said DeMint:

"When I met with Dino a couple months ago, he made it clear he was only interested in running if Republicans were serious about saving our country from fiscal collapse. I've studied his record and his positions on the key issues, and it's clear that he will stand up to the establishment in both parties. Dino is exactly the kind of leader people in Washington and all across America want in the Senate. Dino is in an uphill fight against an entrenched incumbent but I am confident he can win this race."

Washington Post political blogger Chris Cilizza, who had the news first, writes that DeMint's allies think they can raise "upwards of $500,000 for Rossi's candidacy."

The primary endorsement puts DeMint at odds with Sarah Palin, who has backed former NFL player and Pasco farmer Clint Didier. (Didier is still banking on a fundraiser/rally featuring Palin some time in August.)

Didier tried unsuccessfully to get a meeting with DeMint during a June trip to Washington, D.C.

Meanwhile, Rossi announced he's picked up the endorsements of three conservative organizations: the Family Research Council PAC, FreedomWorks PAC, and Gun Owners Action League of Washington.

The Family Research Council is a leading organization of Christian conservatives which opposes marriage equality for gays, saying it does not consider "homosexuality, bi-sexuality and transgenderism" as "acceptable alternative lifestyles or sexual 'preferences.' "

FreedomWorks is a Washington, D.C.-based conservative advocacy group chaired by former U.S. House Majority Leader Dick Armey.

Gun Owners Action League of Washington promotes "firearms owner friendly" candidates.

In a statement on his website, Rossi said the endorsements of the groups shows "I'm running a grassroots campaign based on citizens, not special interests."

He added:

"Our strong and broad appeal, whether in the form of our 30,000 Facebook fans or the support of these key grassroots organizations, prove that my message of reducing government spending, encouraging job creation, protecting individual freedoms, defending traditional values and making America stronger is energizing supporters across Washington State," said Rossi. "America was built on individual freedom and smaller government, and we need to restore that vision in Washington, D.C."

State Democratic Party spokeswoman Sadie Weiner swiftly sought to link the new Rossi endorsements to the "looming announcement" coming tonight from Didier and Paul Akers.

In a statement, Weiner said Rossi "has made a hard turn to the extreme right to protect his tea party flank."

"These ultra right wing endorsements are just simply out of step with Washington state voters. Every day Dino takes another step further out of the mainstream. First he said he would repeal health care. Then he became the first Senate candidate in the country to say he would repeal Wall Street reform. And now he's pumping up endorsements from Jim DeMint and the Family Research Council. Before too long Dino will get a new title in addition to perennial candidate - Grand Marshal in the right-wing extremist parade."

In particular, Weiner cited controversial statements over the years by Tony Perkins, the head of the Family Research Council.

For example, Perkins has defended the teaching of creationism in public schools and once crafted a "covenant marriage law" that would limit divorce to cases of adultery or the sentencing of one party to death or imprisonment.