[AuH2ORepublican]

“Hmmm... if the establishment candidate wanted to demoralize the Tea Party and had a large campaign chest. Why not set up a straw man Tea Party candidate and encourage him to not actively campaign. Have him make a little noise for free publicity sake and let the media destroy the Tea Party after the primary.”

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That certainly would be possible in theory, and I wouldn’t put it past someone like Lamar Alexander, but it certainly is not the case that Joe Carr is some sort of straw man candidate propped up by Alexander—Carr is a proven conservative, and jumped into the Senate race when it became clear that more prominent conservatives (such as Congresswoman Marsha Blackburn) were not going to run.

But I can’t speak for the six unknown and unfunded candidates (they have reported raising $200 between the six of them!) who filed for the seat ....

[Engraved-on-His-hands]

As far as a setup by establishment Republicans, I don't think Joe Carr falls into that category. The jury may be out, however, on George Flinn. From the article:

From the article:

Other candidates—like Dr. George Flinn, who has been suspected of being a spoiler candidate Alexander brought in to weaken Carr’s chances—barely register in the poll.

From an April 4th article:

Before Flinn filed his papers this week, he called Alexander up as a courtesy because he has “the ultimate respect for the man.”

And when asked if Flinn believed Alexander was a good senator, he paused and said: “For the things that have come up for the time? Yes.”

http://www.politico.com/story/2014/04/george-flinn-lamar-alexander-tennessee-105393.html