Tea Party Primaries Fizzled In Texas
Tuesday's Republican primary in Texas, saw long-time state politico and two-term Gov. Rick Perry easily defeat
U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison and Tea Party-affiliated candidate Debra Medina. Even as Rick Perry successfully
tapped into the raw anger toward Washington, other Tea Party-inspired candidates found little success. Debra Medina,
the third GOP gubernatorial contender and the most authentic outsider in the contest, garnered only about 19 percent of
the vote. Further down the ballot, the results were even more telling. No incumbent GOP House member in the Texas
delegation caught a scare, much less lost, against a grassroots conservative challenger. While 86-year-old Rep. Ralph
Hall had the closest contest, he still bested his nearest challenger, a self-proclaimed Tea Party Republican, by a
two-to-one margin. Of those Republican incumbents who supported the TARP legislation in 2008 Reps. Kevin
Brady, Mike Conaway, Kay Granger, Lamar Smith, and Pete Sessions Granger got the lowest vote percent. And she
took 70 percent against two opponents.
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SMACKDOWN: Also interesting to note Republican Congressman Ron Paul of Texas simply demolished three
teabagger primary challengers by raking in over 80% of the vote. More on that can be found in today's
Daily Cup o'Tea.
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