The Tea Party Effect

On February 27th 2009, the Tea Party was born. As an uncentralized grassroots movement protesting expansive government, the ramifications the movement would have on American politics was largely unknown. A year and a half later, in an election that the Republicans are vying to reclaim the two houses of Congress and governorships across the nation, the movement's impact will reach its climax. While at first the emergence of previously dormant conservatives seemed to surely be a blessing for the Republicans, the truth of the matter is not so clear. After Democrats gained large majorities in both the Senate and the House of Representatives as well as taking the Oval Office in 2008, pundits predicted it was only the beginning of what would be a large-scale decline in Republican Party support for the foreseeable future. At the present juncture, nothing could be further from the truth. The current administration's extensive bailouts and expanded scope of government has fueled the fire for Republicans to make significant gains. We stand today on the brink of what may end up being one of the most widespread pushbacks in our political history. Yet the question remains, which side of the aisle has benefited from the emergence of the Tea Party? Republicans have attempted to reap the benefits by aligning themselves, albeit loosely at times, with the movement's push for constitutional government. But the Tea Party's role in the primary elections have had what many believe to be an inverse effect on the final outcome. Candidates such as Christine O'Donnell in Delaware, and Sharon Angle in Nevada have jeopardized senate races that in the months leading up to the primary, appeared to be solidly in Republican hands for the 112th Congress. Angle's senate race has been monitored closely as a key indicator for the 2010 midterm elections as a whole. The two major candidates, Angle and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, could not be more politically diametrical. Angle, a newcomer to elected politics having only previously served as a state assemblywoman, embodies the spirit of revolution as she campaigns for increased transparency and constitutionalism. Reid on the other hand is a veteran in Washington having served in congress for nearly thirty years. As Majority Leader, Reid was pivotal in pushing President Obama's comprehensive health care overhaul through the chamber, the same bill that Angle has promised to fight to repeal. In a state such as Nevada, moderation is desired over staunch polar partisanship, evidenced by the disapproval of mainstream Nevadans. The dissatisfaction is evident with both candidates, as Reid and Angle hold unfavorability ratings larger than their favorable counterparts. Within this final week the race is a clean toss-up, Angle has inched ahead in recent polls, but largely inside the margin of error. The case for Christine O'Donnell is not nearly as promising. Since defeating former Delaware governor Mike Castle in the primary, O'Donnell has trailed Democrat Chris Coons by double-digits. Momentum has veered away from O'Donnell as her lack of political savvy has continued to haunt her with Delaware's moderate Republican base. It is certainly premature to count O'Donnell out of this race, the overarching Republican tidal wave has the potential to counter-balance the shortcomings of her candidacy. The northeast is traditionally a Democratic safeguard, but following in the coattails of Republican Scott Brown's historic special election victory this past winter in Massachusetts, O'Donnell is attempting to continue the Republican trend. Regardless of which direction these races, among others featuring Tea Party candidates nationwide, go on Tuesday, the corollary of the movement will be felt. With every candidates running for public office there are positive and negative aspects, each of which secure and detract votes, but the polarizing nature of the Tea Party has magnified this effect. On November 2nd, America will weigh the Tea Party against the status quo, and to the victor go the spoils... Just in this case, the spoils may be control of the United States Senate.