Apparently afraid that they'll be forced to publicly support another Rand Paul-like candidate, the Republican Party is now openly attacking a tea party candidate in North Carolina:
Republican officials are working to derail the campaign of a tea party supported candidate in North Carolina — circulating documents from the man's messy divorce that depict him as a pot smoker who has called himself the messiah. [...]
Tim D'Annunzio, a congressional candidate in North Carolina's most competitive district, has run an anti-establishment campaign with vows to dismantle entire branches of the federal government. His ideas have drawn support from tea party activists, and he has raised more money from individuals than his GOP rival while also contributing more than $1 million to his own campaign.
Republican leaders in both Raleigh and Washington, however, are worried about his electability in November if he wins a primary runoff next month. They're publicizing court documents about D'Annunzio's past legal, martial and business troubles and denouncing him as unfit for office.
Funny, but D'Annunzio's campaign message sounds a lot like the one Mitch McConnell (R-KY) called a winner last week, doesn't it? But in this race, the GOP establishment decided to take a chance:
It's a risky move for state and national party leaders trying to harness the power of the tea party movement without letting it spin out of their control.
Leaving aside the reality that it's already out of their control (see Bob Bennett and Trey Grayson), it seems that this move will accomplish one thing ... to enrage and energize the tea party element of the North Carolina electorate. Toss in the notion that that the GOP controls the tea party and they'll be breaking out the pitchforks.
And if that is the case, the move could actually accomplish two things ... giving D'Annunzio a victory in the runoff and ensuring Larry Kissell's reelection in November.