Gaining attention YET HER GROUP of Tea Partiers has gained the attention of Republican candidates Links of London Staten Island Rep. Michael McMahon, a Democrat in a swing district. Members organized their inaugural tax-day Links of London k Charm last year in front of Mr. McMahon's office, and subsequently met with him to discuss health reform. Although he voted against the health care bill, Mr. McMahon is unlikely to win Tea Party members' support because he's part of the Democratic majority. "I think the congressman is a great guy, a gentleman and a very smart man," says Frank Santarpia, the co-organizer of the Staten Island Tea Party. "But I have to look at the bigger pictures. He is a part of what enables Nancy Pelosi to be the Speaker.", He thinks Democrats have pulled the country "so far leftward that the silent majority is finally speaking." A spokeswoman for Mr. McMahon's campaign says he has a 30-point lead over his Republican challengers. "Clearly, there is a disenfranchised portion of the electorate that feels the Links of London Karabiner Bangle Party represents them," she says. "But in terms of this district, the poll shows there's no effect at all." The state Republican party is paying close attention. Edward Cox, the state GOP's chairman, believes that even in a liberal state like New York, the Tea Party has the power to rally opposition against Democrats in a year hostile to incumbents. A Siena College poll last month showed that one in five New York voters supports the Tea Party. "It's not a fringe movement," says Mr. Cox. "It's really the tip of the iceberg." Tea Party Links of London Key Charm don't plan to officially endorse candidates, but they will vet them. The Staten Island Tea Party, whose base consists of an e-mail list of people, will hold a sold-out candidates forum May .
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