Rand Paul: Tea Party Ready to "Flex Some Muscle"

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While critics cast the Tea Party movement as a fad and a flash in the pan, Tuesday's Republican Senate primary in Kentucky might prove to naysayers that they indeed are a legitimate force and their backing of Dr. Rand Paul has propelled him as the front-runner for what is usually a ho-hum race.

Watch the video at left or here.

Paul joined CBS News Senior White House Correspondent Bill Plante on Tuesday's "Washington Unplugged" and explained this isn't an issue of Republican vs. Democrat but a referendum on the out of control spending from both parties in Washington.

"Neither party has controlled the debt very well and neither party has controlled spending," he said. "So I think the Tea Party is about bringing government back to its senses and a lot of the things we talk about are a chastisement to both parties."

He insists, though that the aim of the Tea Party movement isn't to isolate the other parties and that, in fact, he shares some ideals with Democrats.

"I think the interesting thing is that a lot of the things the Tea Party talk about are very popular with Democrats and Independents. We talk about term limits... You poll a balanced budget amendment you find than an enormous amount of Independents and Democrats support term limits and balanced budget," he said.

As Plante noted, Paul sounded quite confident of victory in today's vote.

"We can't anticipate anything but victory," Paul said. "We've worked very hard. The Tea Party rallies have been enormous all across the state. I think the Tea Party is ready to flex some muscle and this will be the first example of a state wide election where the Tea Party has a chance to win."

Watch Tuesday's "Washington Unplugged" above which also features Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell and a primary roundtable with CBS News' Anthony Salvanto and CBSNews.com's Brian Montopoli.

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"Washington Unplugged," CBSNews.com's exclusive daily politics Webshow, appears live on CBSNews.com each weekday at 12:30 p.m. ET. Click here to check out previous episodes.

[4nopary]

For those deluded and brainwashed, the Tea Party protestors are not racist. I have gone to at least 4, two in DC, and after walking for hours and talking to others, I never saw a racist sign nor heard a racist comment, and NO, I am neither blind or deaf. Those posters who claim otherwise, are race baiters. and doing so at the behest of the Progressives. The Tea Party is very much like the Spirit of '76, and they have a similar fight on their hands because of the elitist who think they are our, the American taxpayers sovereign rulers. We aren't a Political Party, but a group that gives life to the tried and true reasons America has been great. There is so much hate in the rhetoric such as CEBES2 spouted that one can only assume he is a troll or some sort of paid insider whose sole purpose in life is to destroy. Long Live the Tea Party Spirit, down with the vile, racist provocateurs.

[jimbom121]

You aren't a political party...LOL. No, you were already consumed by the Republican party. Look at who funds the Tea Party. Its all you need to know.

[2badd2]

I met a couple of tea baggers about a month ago. Sure nuff, red neck and as ignorant as my pony...

[PainfullyAware]

The Ron Paul "Taxed Enough Already" Party Is The Spearhead.

The Campaign For Liberty Continues.

Anyone Advocating A Return Toward Constitutional Limits On Federal Power Is An Ally.

If you do not study and find out what "Level 3 Assets" and "Fractional Reserve Banking With Fiat Money" are, you will not understand why your Economy, and your Currency, Is In Jeopardy.

Safety Is A Function Of Awareness.

[roger3107]

I really like the idea of Congressional Term Limits.

[Cebes2]

tea party? You mean that racist group with delusions of grandeur of forcing their particular bias on the rest of America? Tea party a splinter group that has demonstrated no real political impact other than what their little minds can conjure up. Nothing but a bunch of simpleton schmucks.

[kkeeler]

What is your definition of "racist"? Would you include The congressional Black Caucus as racists? La Raza? The NAACP? They all exclude a certain race. Does the tea party have any restrictions on who can join based on race? The fact that you point out the tea party and not groups that exclude certain races, shows who is the simpleton.

[daredelvis]

actually i think he's talking about the tea partiers who hate socialized medicine yet love medicare. who don't want the government making decision on your health except in the case of terry shiavo. who hate money going to other countries except in the case of israel. the same ones who hate wealth redistribution except in the case of the state of alaska. yes, the same ones who complain about 47% not paying income tax but support tax free statuses for churches. i wouldn't say that they're racist but definitely inconsistent.

[Ekiosity12]

Is he actually running under the tea party?

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