The Tea Party, ensuring the survival of the President's majority in the Senate?

Sharron Angle, Carly Fiorina and Rand Paul. Three candidates for the United States Senate (from Nevada, California and Kentucky respectively) that won their primaries in large part due to support from those activists closely associated with the Tea Parties. In Michigan, a Republican Candidate for governor trailing in the polls (Mike Bouchard) has started to recruit this constituency to boost his chances at being the nominee from his party next November. What's clear in Republican Primaries based on these results is the Tea Party has a foothold among voters. Anti-incumbent views, as well as a message of fiscal restraint seem to resonate with so many who are voting in primary elections. However, how will some of the following messages fare in the general election?

- Candidate Paul has indicated the Civil Rights Act was a mistake and an example of government intrusion into business, something he opposes.

- Candidate Fiorina opposes cap and trade policies, a reasonable position to take, but goes a step further by saying those who are concerned about climate change are "worried about the weather."

- Candidate Angle has advocated no regulation for oil companies, elimination of social security, and for the criminalization of alcohol consumption.

While these positions (rather right of center in my opinion) have resonated with a group of Republican primary voters, I wonder how they will be viewed in the general election. While some on the news are predicting "another 1994" marked with significant losses for the Democrats in the legislature, I'm not so sure. Make no mistake, I do believe Republicans will win seats next November, and think it's a strong chance they may control the House of Representatives. However, I don't know that some of the far right positions being advocated will bring about the significant election results some are prognosticating. The Tea Party movement and Sarah Palin may lessen the blow to the President and Democrats, particularly in the Senate. Are independent voters in California or Nevada likely to support positions that are anti-environment? Will Rand Paul really gain support with independents in Kentucky? There views, in my opinion, will not help them succeed in November - when the real elections happen.

This very situation played out in the United Kingdom over the past decade. In opposition to Tony Blair and the Labour government, the Conservatives became more and more extreme in their rhetoric. The result? Labour leadership in Parliament until this year, when a moderate conservative had to form a coalition government and the transition finally occurred.