The Atlantic has two stories featuring how two southern senators - Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and Thad Cochran of Mississippi - have attempted to fight of challenges from Tea Party Republicans who see both as too committed to Washington, too willing to compromise and not conservative enough.
These are among a series of stories I'll highlight which point out the internal conflict within each major political party, both the Democrats and Republicans. A quick read through these stories points out how these internal conflicts play themselves out.
- Click here for How Lindsey Graham Stomped the Tea Party.
- Click here for Thad Cochran, the Last of the Naive Republicans.
Tonight Senator Graham defeated six opponents in the Republican Primary. He won a majority of the vote (56%), which means that there is no need for a run-off. Neither Cochran nor his Tea Party opponent won a majority of the vote in June 4th's primary, so they are preparing for a run-off on June 24th.
Since its development in 2009, the Tea Party has attempted to pull the Republican Party further right by funding challengers to Republican incumbents they deem too moderate. In some places this has been successful - like here in Texas - but in other's it has pulled the Republican Party far enough to the right to lose the support of moderate voters.
Democrats are hoping that continues to be the case.
2305 students should think about this in terms of party factions. You'll note in the section on parties that the Tea Party, is not a party - it is a faction within the Republican Party. There is a good reason for this, As an independent party they would have no chance to win elections, but if they are able to control the Republican Party - they are more likely to do so. This assumes that they do not nominate candidates judged too extreme, or just plain weird, for moderates.
2306 students should think about this as an example of the fact that the major parties are primarily state organizations. They are each reflective of the internal politics in each of the states. This explains why the Tea Party has enjoy more success in certain places than others.
