No matter how you slice it, he still came in as a Republican. Talk of a 3rd party is very misinformed. Unless, you actually break from any party then its not a 3rd party. In no uncertain terms this maybe a ruse where at least the "tea party" people feel different but in fact get in under a Republican banner.
Our local Republican people are fighting now amongst themselves and had elections and in-fighting already and made a mess of things. Of course, I'm not too happy about the Democrats either. In other words the whole dang political machine is realigning itself. This is w/o any tea party help. which if for lack of a cold beer is very annoying. -----Willy 
An organizer for the Tea Party won a seat as NY assemblyman. Also some convention being planned in Las Vegas. Looks like things with that group are coalescing into a third political party. Or not. This guy is also a Republican. So, what exactly is going on with all this?
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/02/17/tea-party-organizer-wins-new-york-state-assembly-race/
Dean Murray, a 45-year-old Long Island, N.Y., businessman who organized Tea Party protests, will be sworn in as the new Republican state assemblyman representing Long Island's eastern 3rd Assembly District after being certified the winner of a special election held last Tuesday. Murray defeated his Democratic opponent, 28-year-old Lauren Thoden, 51 to 49 percent, making him what is believed to be the first Tea Party organizer who has attained public office.
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