Tea Party Crippled by Disorganization

One key to the Tea Party’s relatively broad appeal—that it’s a large amorphous network without a top-down leadership—may also be a major flaw when it comes to what matters most when working for political change: winning elections. In two House races, the group was unable to coalesce around a single candidate, handing victory to the incumbents. Worse, activists sense that some of their own are beginning to act like traditional politicians. And now half of all Americans have an unfavorable view of the Tea Party, up 21 points since March. Many partiers are proud of their decentralization, which makes them feel like their voices are being heard. But the movement puts the GOP in a bind, as it shifts attention from incumbent Democrats to what some call fringe candidates. (Fearing the controversy that Rand Paul faced, some Tea Party-backed candidates are now ignoring media requests.)