Poll: Support for the Tea Party movement has dropped among Republicans

WASHINGTON, May 8 (UPI) -- Support for the Tea Party movement has dropped among Republican voters and those who say they tilt that way, said a Gallup poll released Thursday.

Only 41 percent of Republicans surveyed said they support the Tea Party, Gallup reported. Fewer than one in four, 22 percent, of the entire sample described themselves as supporters.

In November 2010, when Republicans took control of the House of Representatives, 61 percent in the party supported the Tea Party. Almost one-third, 32 percent, of all adults were supporters.

Support for the Tea Party among Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents has changed little, dropping from 9 percent in 2010 to 7 percent in the recent poll.

Gallup cited the Republican primary in North Carolina where Thom Tillis, speaker of the state House of Representatives and generally perceived as the establishment candidate, defeated Greg Brannon. Brannon, a political novice, had the support of Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., and was seen as the Tea Party choice.

But some commentators suggest that Tillis won because he campaigned by advocating a smaller government and the repeal of the Affordable Care Act. In effect, they say, the party establishment has adopted Tea Party ideas.

Gallup surveyed 1,513 adults, including 1,336 registered voters, between April 24 and April 30. The margin of error is 3 percentage points.