[IamConservative]

Add up the total votes for Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum when both were competitive this year, and it will demonstrate that the very conservative vote among Republicans is more than alive and well.

The Indiana Tea Party learned a lesson in 2010 when Evan Bayh's seat was open. In that election, there were 4 or more candidates that popped up as "Tea Party" candidates to replace Bayh and there was one establishment candidate (Coats) in the race. The Tea Party vote split regionally and Coats coasted back into office. This time around, it was one establishment candidate (Lugar) and one Tea Party supported candidate (Mourdock)and the establishment was defeated.

That there were multiple Tea Party supported Presidential candidates in 2012 is how we ended up with Romney. Hate to say it, but we may need some national level Tea Party organization to slate a candidate next time around.

[PapaBear3625]

That there were multiple Tea Party supported Presidential candidates in 2012 is how we ended up with Romney. Hate to say it, but we may need some national level Tea Party organization to slate a candidate next time around.

You got it exactly right. The inability to rally around one candidate is what happened.

[fortheDeclaration]

Yes, we need to have a national TeaParty Presidential candidate, but many social conservatives won’t back a Teaparty candidate because the teaparty won’t make social issues the center of their campaign.