The leaders of the Hampton Roads Tea Party have stepped into the endorsement game, backing congressional hopeful Ben Loyola's bid for the Republican nomination opposite U.S. Rep. Glenn Nye.
It has been fairly obvious recently that the local tea party activists were uncomfortable with frontrunner Republican Scott Rigell for a number of reasons. Click on that link and you'll get the side of the story from the tea party folks perspective. In fact the leadership specifically took on Rigell late last week, posting a laundry list of problems that they have with his candidacy.
Tea party folks said that some of Rigell's previous actions were "deal breakers" including his $1,000 donation to Barack Obama, participation in the "Cash for Clunkers" program and $10,000 donation to the "Yes campaign" in Hampton Roads which backed higher taxes for transportation improvements.
This is a nice coup for Loyola, even though the leaders are quick to say that they aren't speaking for their supporters by rather attempting to speak to the ones who need some direction in clearing through a crowded field of candidates.
Loyola has won the backing of the tea party folks - and he also won over folks like Alan Vanasse - the longtime Hampton political player. With the victory of Rand Paul in Kentucky - a tea party endorsement can clearly mean something.
Here's the text of the news release from the tea party folks.
"After thoroughly and thoughtfully evaluating the GOP candidates vying for the Second District nod," says HRTP Founder and Chairperson Karen Miner Hurd, "the Board has decided to make a clear declaration of its support for Mr. Loyola.""The Hampton Roads Tea Party was created to fight back an overreaching, corrupt, and obese government – at all levels," says Hurd. The Tea Party movement, including the Hampton Roads Tea Party, holds both the Republicans and the Democrats accountable for the current state of the Nation. The political elites are not listening to the people who pay their salaries. In 2010 we have an opportunity to send representatives to Congress who WILL listen and who know that they are obligated to the people - the voters - not to a political machine."
Hurd continues, "Initially, the Board had no intention of making an endorsement in the 2nd District Congressional GOP primary. However, we started getting calls and emails from our members, asking which candidate to support, especially as the members became aware of front-runner Scott Rigell’s donation to Obama and his past support for a sales tax increase and other issues which are deal-breakers for many of our members."
"As the Board of Directors of the Hampton Roads Tea Party, we felt an obligation and a responsibility to take an informed stand in a very crowded candidate field. By endorsing Ben Loyola, we don’t presume to speak FOR our members, but rather TO our members. We know that each person’s vote is precious. We know that the “tea party vote” when focused on one candidate, has been shown to change elections and greatly impact even the most deeply entrenched candidates. We feel very strongly that the 'Republican political machine' in Hampton Roads needs to be defeated."
"Clearly, each member of the Tea Party is able to think and choose for themselves. We encourage our members to take a hard look at Ben Loyola. We encourage them to get involved in his campaign. So far, this Republican primary election is being dominated by money and the GOP establishment."
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