It is hard to believe, but the Tea Party activists are already formulating lists of targets of United States Senators — both Democrats and Republicans — up for reelection in 2012. On the Republican side, the Tea Party groups will be closely watching the votes and actions (in committees on which they serve) of such Republicans up for reelection as Indiana’s Richard Lugar and Texas’ Kay Bailey Huchison, among others.

There are a number of Republican senators who should be concerned about primary challenges — who may be running for reelection in 2012 — who saw conservative Senator Bob Bennett from Utah being challenged in the Republican primaries and being defeated.

The Tea Party groups also scared Republican Senator Arlen Specter so much with their support for the now Senator-elect Pat Toomey in Pennsylvania, that he fled the party. They now are even talking about challenging conservative Utah Senator Orrin Hatch up for reelection in 2012. Continue reading →