Governor Perdue speaks at fundraiser for U.S. Rep. Paul Broun in Augusta

The state's top official lent a hand to U.S. Rep. Paul Broun on Wednesday.

Governor Sonny Perdue spoke at a barbecue luncheon fundraiser for Broun in Augusta, where tickets were $25 each.

Perdue's appearance comes as Broun faces criticism for spending much of his office budget for mailings during his campaign.

A congressional report says Broun spent more than 80 percent of his annual congressional office budget, according to media reports. About half the spending went to mailings to constituents during the primary election season in which he was unsuccessfully challenged by a powerful state legislator, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

In an interview with WGAU radio in Athens recently, Broun apparently blames staffers for the spending. But he says the mailings are "still within the parameters" of his budget. He says that no congressional offices will close and that no one from his office will be fired.