Republicans try to derail candidate backed by tea party

May 25, 2010 at 12:00a.m.

Associated Press

RALEIGH, N.C.

Republican officials are working to derail the campaign of a tea-party-supported candidate in North Carolina — circulating documents from the man’s messy divorce that depict him as a pot smoker who has called himself the messiah.

It’s a risky move for state and national party leaders trying to harness the power of the tea-party movement without letting it spin out of their control.

Tim D’Annunzio, a congressional candidate in North Carolina’s most competitive district, has run an anti-establishment campaign with vows to dismantle entire branches of the federal government. His ideas have drawn support from tea-party activists, and he has raised more money from individuals than his GOP rival while also contributing more than $1 million to his own campaign.

Republican leaders in both Raleigh and Washington, however, are worried about his electability in November if he wins a primary runoff next month. They’re publicizing court documents about his past legal, martial and business troubles and denouncing him as unfit for office.

“Mr. D’Annunzio has disqualified himself by his background, his record and his behavior,” said Tom Fetzer, North Carolina’s Republican Party chairman. He said the GOP embraces the tea party but doesn’t believe a person with such a checkered past should be the party’s nominee.