Questions Brewing About TEA Party's Cash Flow in CD 8

The 8th Congressional District in Orlando has become the epicenter of a three-way squabble among Democratic U.S. Rep. Alan Grayson, seven Republican challengers and TEA Party candidate Peg Dunmire.

Dunmire, rumored to have received $7,500 from Grayson or his backers, vehemently denies that claim. She acknowledges receiving that amount of "in-kind" support from the TEA Party in the form of "press conferences and media relations," but, she adds, "There was no money in that at all."

But Republicans insist that Grayson's hand -- via TEA Party operatives -- is propping up the Dunmire-TEA effort in a not-so-transparent effort to split the conservative vote this fall.

Seven Republicans are vying for the GOP nomination in CD 8, including former Sen. Daniel Webster, who today received the endorsement of U.S. Sen. George LeMieux; state Rep. Kurt Kelly, who represents House District 29; and Brian O'Donoghue, who has been endorsed by former Sen. Mel Martinez and former Lt. Gov. Toni Jennings.

Read our upcoming story for details.