Tea Party Candidates Gain Momentum in Indiana and Florida Republican Primaries

The Tea Party movement continues to gain traction in Indiana and Florida, as insurgent candidates challenge establishment Republicans. In Indiana, Richard Mourdock, a Tea Party-backed candidate, is running against Senator Dick Lugar, the country's longest-serving Republican senator. Meanwhile, in Florida, a new PPP poll shows Tea Party candidate Mike McCalister leading the increasingly bloody contest for the Republican senate nomination.

Key Takeaways:

• The Tea Party movement is gaining momentum in Indiana, with Richard Mourdock receiving the endorsement of the Tea Party Express and Indiana Tea Party activists.
• In Florida, a new PPP poll shows Tea Party candidate Mike McCalister leading the Republican senate nomination contest, despite controversy surrounding his military record.
• The Republican primary in Florida has become a circular firing squad, with the establishment aiming squarely at their standard bearers.
• Many Florida Republicans are unhappy with their current field and are holding out hope for a better candidate to emerge.
• Richard Mourdock has been endorsed by Tea Party Express chair Amy Kremer, who stated that Lugar has "treated the Tea Party with contempt and disdain."
• Mourdock has also been called a "favorite son" by the Tea Party movement in Indiana.

Statistics:

• 96-1 vote total from delegates at the Hoosiers for Conservative Senate convention, which endorsed Mourdock.
• 9/28/2011: CNN reported on the Tea Party Express' endorsement of Mourdock.
• 9/24/2011: The Indianapolis Star reported on the Hoosiers for Conservative Senate convention that endorsed Mourdock.
• 30%: McCalister's support in the latest PPP poll, according to the article.

Sources:

• The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee
• Roll Call
• CNN, September 28, 2011
• CNN, September 24, 2011
• Indianapolis Star, September 24, 2011
• PPP poll
• Tea Party Express
• Hoosiers for Conservative Senate convention