As Rich mentioned, a Washington Post-ABC poll shows support for the tea party dropping sharply. Conservative pollster John McLaughlin makes a few points about the poll.

First: The poll surveys adults, not likely voters–the second group is more tea-party friendly. Perhaps the downward trend is concentrated among non-voters? We know that it’s concentrated among young people, which suggests the answer is yes.

Second: “The poll has some sort of Democratic bias, which is anti-Tea Party, because they have Democrats leading the Republicans in the generic vote for Congress 47-44. Most other polls have the GOP ahead. They have only 24% Republicans in the poll. That’s the difference.” Rasmussen, he notes, has the Republicans ahead by 9 points on the generic ballot.

Third: “Still the Tea Party may be taking a partisan hit from the Democrats and statements like Paul’s do hurt.”