Former US vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin has said she has a "political crush" on Marion Maréchal-Le Pen of France's far-right Front National (FN) party, reports BBC News.
Ms Palin, writing for the conservative news website Breitbart, described the Frenchwoman as "a clear voice of courage and common sense in a country and continent in need of both".
The young far-right candidate reminded her of Joan of Arc, she said.
The FN failed to win control of any of France's regions in Sunday's elections
Ms Maréchal-Le Pen came second in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region.
The socialist candidate withdrew as a tactical manoeuvre to ensure the FN did not top the poll.
Ms Palin, who was John McCain's running mate in the 2008 US presidential election, highlighted the achievements of both Ms Maréchal-Le Pen, 26, and her aunt, FN leader Marine Le Pen.
She praised the younger French politician for being "unapologetically pro-life" and for speaking of "France's 16 centuries of Judeo-Christian history and heritage".
The Tea Party favourite writes of the threat to the West from the so-called Islamic State group and the suspicion by French authorities that some of the Paris attackers - European citizens - travelled to Europe from Syria by posing as refugees.
"Our insane politicians want to import more so-called 'refugees' ... This is why we need to seal the borders," Ms Palin writes.
"As Marion faces the political battles ahead, I wouldn't be surprised if she says a prayer to France's patron saint [sic], for Marion is a reminder of her - Joan of Arc."