“Tea party” Republicans aren’t the only candidates poised to make inroads this year – moderate Republicans are surging from Illinois to California, and in several instances proving they can best tea-party-powered conservatives at the polls.
Take the Illinois Republican Senate primary: Patrick Hughes, a developer and political newcomer, seemed to have the wind at his back as a staunch fiscal conservative and favorite of the tea party movement. His chief rival, Rep. Mark Kirk, was routinely blasted as a RINO – Republican in Name Only – for his more moderate record, which includes votes for cap-and-trade emissions legislation and the bank bailouts.
Full story: Moderate Republicans crash tea party – Washington Times