Tea Party activists across the nation tried to put the “independence” back in Independence Day this weekend with festivals and other gatherings focused on the Constitution — and how to use it for political gain. Coupled with an upsurge in organized classes and book clubs, the trend reflects a growing effort among conservatives to teach supporters [...]

There is significant overlap between Americans who identify as supporters of the Tea Party movement and those who identify as conservative Republicans. Their similar ideological makeup and views suggest that the Tea Party movement is more a rebranding of core Republicanism than a new or distinct entity on the American political scene. Conservative Republicans outnumber [...]

Brian Kirwin of Bearing Drift is reporting that GOP Second District Congressional candidate Scott Rigell has turned down a speaking role at Sunday’s Freedom Fest with Sarah Palin, Ollie North and others at Norfolk’s Ted Constant Convocation Center. Rigell’s decisions appears to follow the Shad Plank article: “Poll says Palin endorsement could hurt GOP nominees – Decision time for [...]

Harris Pavilion was the scene of the Manassas Tea Party‘s “Defend the Constitution” rally on Friday evening. Many in the crowd of more than 500 came to see featured speaker, state Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli (R) at the Old Town event. Cuccinelli spoke mainly about Virginia’s lawsuit against the federal government over the insurance mandate [...]

Jeff Clark, the independent candidate, running against U.S. Rep. Tom Perriello (D) and GOP nominee Robert Hurt faced some skeptical questions Thursday from members of the Jefferson Area Tea Party. Several members of the Charlottesville-area conservative group told Jeff Clark – a Danville resident and Tea Party member himself – that they are worried his candidacy [...]

VA-5 GOP Congressional nominee, Sen. Robert Hurt said yesterday that he is not willing to debate Jeffrey C. Clark, a tea-party supporter from Danville and independent candidate who is running against Hurt and Democratic Rep. Tom Perriello in November’s election. ”We cannot allow the important debate in this election to be sidetracked by a candidate who [...]

Former Democratic Delegate Steve Shannon has launced a new political action committee, Virginians for a Better Way, as Shannon puts his toe back into Virginia politics. Shannon got walloped by Ken Cuccinelli in the race for attorney general last November. Shannon had resigned his Fairfax delegate’s seat to run for the office, and he’s been [...]

Tea party supporters — the movement is too proudly unstructured to have card-carrying “members” — had better savor this moment. They’ve had an exciting ride so far and have scored a few electoral victories, but their political life probably won’t get any better than this. This sentiment appears to be supported in a new Washington [...]

The national tea party movement has never had a central organization or single leader; in fact, it has boasted the opposite. But Tuesday’s primary results provided fresh evidence of the amorphous network’s struggle to convert activist anger and energy into winning results. Frustrated and lacking agreement on what to do next, self-identified tea party leaders [...]

The Hampton Roads Tea Party will probably stay neutral in Virginia’s second district after the nomination of GOP candidate Scott Rigell, according to the Virginian-Pilot’s Bill Bartel. Virginia’s Second Congressional District is considered one of the GOP’s two best pick-up opportunities in Virginia — the other being Democratic Rep. Tom Perrilello‘s seat in the Commonwealth’s Fifth [...]