In interviews with The Washington Times, Republicans said they see two problems ahead.

One is that Democrats benefit from fake tea party candidates siphoning crucial votes from a Republican candidate.

The other is the ongoing tendency of the Republican establishment to invite tea party rebellions by picking more-liberal candidates, such as Dede Scozzafava, who lost another Republican-leaning New York congressional district in a special election in 2009…

Mr. Klinge predicted the tea party “will be more of hindrance than an asset in 2012 if the Republican leadership doesn’t reach out to the tea party.”