The Tea Party primary is under sail, with the first two Republicans to officially launch presidential campaigns being darlings of the grassroots movement.
Be they called liberty Republicans, or constitutional conservatives, the candidates seek to be in sync with a disenchanted electorate, broaden their base and win over undeclared voters.
Will 2016 be a coming of age election for the movement?
That is how the Tea Party Express puts it.
U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and U.S. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., are now candidates. U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., makes his big announcement Monday. Together, they are the 2016 trifecta, according to Sal Russo, chief strategist for the Tea Party Express.
Other likely candidates are also likely to strike some Tea Party and liberty chords, including former Texas Gov. Rick Perry, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, and Dr. Ben Carson.
A number of activists are intent on their message being heard.
The New Hampshire Center for Economic Policy, an organization for a free-market, limited government, hosted Carson for a town meeting earlier this week. Andrew Hemingway, a former chairman of the Republican Liberty Caucus of New Hampshire and 2014 GOP candidate for governor, is CEO of the center.
The Conservative Business League of New Hampshire, a new group established to identify constitutional conservatives, is organized by some prominent activists. One of them is Jack Kimball, a former state GOP chairman and founder of the Granite State Patriots Liberty PAC.
Ray Buckley, chairman of the New Hampshire Democratic Party, has in the past called Tea Party candidates extreme right-wingers. Those diggers will bring a case of dj vu for those recalling the 2012 and 2014 election cycles.
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Dan Tuohy's Granite Status Will 2016 be Tea Party's coming of age?