Webster Endorsement Splinters Tea Parties in Congressional District 8

Two Tea Party groups in Central Florida today endorsed Republican nominee Daniel Webster's bid to unseat Rep. Alan Grayson.

The West Orlando Tea Party and the Central Florida Tea Party Council backed Webster, who topped a field of seven GOP candidates in Tuesday's primary.

Daniel Webster is the ideal conservative candidate to run against Alan Grayson, because the contrasts could not be more striking, said WOTP founder Ron McCoy.

The groups' endorsement drew a rebuke from the rival Florida TEA Party, which has Peg Dunmire in the race.

"The entity calling itself the West Orlando Tea Party is an organization that has been affiliated with and associated with GOP operatives Everett Wilkinson, Tom Tillisonand Jason Hoyt. They are a prime example of guys who have given themselves a title and a website and call themselves a 'tea party,'" said TEA consultant Doug Guetzloe.

Phil Russo, who worked on the campaign of Todd Long who finished second behind Webster, speculated that most, if not all, of the half-dozen GOP candidates will rally around Webster. But Russo also suggested that some libertarian-leaning Tea Party faithful might break for Grayson.

"He's good on the Fed, on the war and on the Patriot Act," Russo explained.

Game on!