How do establishment Republicans and Democrats view the tea party movement?
With a sense of apprehension and curiosity. Rather than run candidates as independents, the tea party movement largely has inserted itself into Republican Party politics. In some cases its candidates toppled GOP incumbents in primaries, such as Sens. Bob Bennett in Utah and Lisa Murkowski in Alaska. In Kentucky, the tea party movement helped Rand Paul win the GOP nomination for the open Senate seat over the Republican favored by Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky. Which November elections with tea party-backed candidates are worth watching? There are dozens. Among the most watched races will be the Nevada Senate race pitting tea party-backed Republican Sharron Angle against Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid, and Rand Paul’s bid for the Senate in Kentucky. Both Angle and Paul have made rookie missteps and controversial statements on issues ranging from gun rights to affirmative action. Their bids in states where Republicans should be strong this year may be seen as tests of
