Tea Partiers Attack... Ron Paul?

Drama stars Rick Perry, Kay Bailey Hutchison, Ron Paul and the Tea Party

(NEWSER) - All eyes in the political world turn to Texas today, as the Lone Star State holds what should be a telling primary for the GOP. Center stage is the GOP gubernatorial race, a three-way slug-fest between current Gov. Rick Perry, Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison and tea partier—and momentary 9/11 truther —Debra Medina. The race is so heated, and early voting so strong, that turnout may eclipse that for the 2008 presidential primary, Politico reports. More»

Perry and KBH face off; Tea Party mounts challenge in Fla.

(NEWSER) - The 2010 primaries will see the GOP repairing its identity and soul-searching among Democrats. The 10 most important races, according to Chris Cillizza of the Washington Post :

1. Texas governor, R: Rick Perry is running for an unprecedented third term, and voters seem to approve. But Kay Bailey Hutchison is a popular, crafty, and well-funded opponent.
2. Florida Senate, R: The looming battle between Gov. Charlie Crist and former state House Speaker Marco Rubio is being closely watched as a bellwether of the rift between GOP moderates and the insurgent Tea Party movement.

South Carolina senator throws weight behind conservative insurgents

(NEWSER) - Jim DeMint has thrown his lot in with the hyper-conservative tea party movement, backing far-right candidates against party favorites in several key 2010 races. In the process, the South Carolina senator’s picked up a pile of enemies in the party leadership, but he’s also grown his influence. Even moderate Republicans are now looking for DeMint’s endorsement, hoping to stave off primary challengers, and maybe tap into his fundraising prowess. More»

(NEWSER) - The so-called “tea party” movement has spawned a host of primary challengers for House Republicans, pressuring them to stay far to the right, CQ Politics reports. “I’ve got four primary challengers, and all of them hope to capitalize on the tea parties,” complains Bob Inglis of South Carolina, who has come under fire for backing a carbon tax and the resolution condemning Joe “You Lie” Wilson. More»

Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst's 45% of the vote not enough to slay Ted Cruz

(NEWSER) - It looks like the Tea Party insurgency isn't over yet. Movement darling Raphael "Ted" Cruz didn't win yesterday's Republican Senate primary, but he kept things close enough to force a runoff with his favored opponent, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, the Wall Street Journal reports. Dewhurst had better name recognition, Rick Perry's endorsement, and a personal fortune to finance his campaign, but was only able to manage 45% of the vote, not enough to seal the deal. Cruz and Dewhurst are running to replace the retiring Kay Bailey Hutchison. More»