An interesting point via e-mail:

One unspoken conclusion of your . . . piece today on the potency of the Tea Party is that it has also allowed the “independents” (we used to call them Reagan Democrats) to become allied again with the Republican base without appearing to wear the tainted RNC brand. Essentially this provides a back door and cover for all those independents who have shifted 3-1 against Democrats to vote as Republicans in November without actually being labeled so. This is what happened in the VA-NJ-MA elections and is clearly showing up in the national polls. It is an aspect of the Tea Party phenomenon is being underestimated by the media and the Democrats – to their peril.