Tea Party Express to kick off pre-election push in Nevada

WASHINGTON -- The Tea Party Express that fueled the rise of Republican Senate candidate Sharron Angle in Nevada and is backing insurgent candidates in other states announced a cross-country bus tour and pre-election rallies that will start Oct. 18 in Reno.

The tour will include rallies in Elko and Reno on Oct. 18, and in Ely and Las Vegas on Oct. 19, according to the group. A spokesman said the locations and speakers are to be determined.

The group will hold rallies to promote a small-government message in 17 states, ending with a Nov. 1 event in Concord, N.H.

The Tea Party Express is the same group that was behind the Showdown in Searchlight, a March rally in the hometown of Democratic Sen. Leader Harry Reid that began a cross-country tour. The group has targeted the Senate majority leader this year.

Spokesman Levi Russell said the latest tour's kickoff was set in Nevada to have an effect during early voting, which starts on Oct. 16.

Reid welcomes the return of the Tea Party Express to Nevada, campaign adviser Jon Summers said. He said the Tea Party group "on full display" will underscore Reid's charge that Angle is out of the political mainstream.

The Tea Party Express propelled Angle's candidacy through an early endorsement and more than $1 million in advertising. Her campaign has not said whether she will participate in the Nevada rallies.

"No matter what, it is very clear that Angle's campaign continues to rely solely on out-of-state support because mainstream Nevadans have already rejected her extreme agenda," Summers said.

Besides Angle, the Tea Party Express also is raising funds for long-shot Republicans Christine O'Donnell in Delaware and Joe Miller in Alaska. Both pulled off surprise GOP primary victories.

Contact Stephens Washington Bureau Chief Steve Tetreault at stetreault@stephensmedia.com or 202-783-1760.