In less than two years, freshman Democrat U.S. Rep. Alan Grayson has built a national reputation as a bare-knuckle brawler whom conservatives love to hate, an unapologetic supporter of health-care reform and government regulation.
But come Election Day, he stands to gain from an unlikely source: the Florida Tea Party.
The fledgling Florida Tea Party has put forward Peg Dunmire against Grayson in the race for Florida's 8th Congressional District. Grayson, Dunmire and whichever Republican wins that party's August primary will face off in the November general election.
As a third-party candidate and political newcomer with scant campaign funding, Dunmire has little chance of winning. But with a spot on the ballot listed under the Florida Tea Party mantle, she could attract votes from disaffected conservatives — votes that would otherwise likely go to the Republican candidate.
"Everyone understands the impact a Tea Party candidate could have in that race," said Tom Tillison, an activist with the tea-party movement who has no connection to the formal political party. "It's clear that Peg Dunmire's candidacy stands to benefit Alan Grayson tremendously."
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/politics/os-grayson-tea-party-spoiler-20100614,0,6036375.story