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Just afew months ago, tea party groups were running attack ads against Sen. Pat Roberts (R-Kansas). Now, he's winning their endorsements.

Tea Party Patriots has officially endorsed Roberts, as he faces a tough re-election battle against independent candidate Greg Orman."There is just too much at stake not to support Pat Roberts, the group's presidentJenny Beth Martin said in a statement. We reached out to our people in Kansas, and they overwhelmingly supported this endorsement. They know this race is too important to sit out."

That's comingfrom the same personwho saidafter Roberts won his August primary that "sometimes the best candidate doesnt win." Thegroup spent more than $75,000 in Kansasagainst Robertsduring the primary.

After an unexpectedly tough primary challenge, Roberts has spent much of the general election highlighting his conservative bona fides. But his bigger problem may be a perception among voters that he'sgrown out-of-touch with Kansas, with questions over his residency also looming large in the bruising primary battle.

So Robertsbeen crisscrossing the state in hopes of energizing the GOP base, with a campaign rhetoric focused on painting Orman as a Democratic liberal in disguise and the danger of the Senate remaining in Democratic hands. He's had tea party favorites come in as reinforcements for his efforts, includingSarah PalinandTexas Sen. Ted Cruz.

The latest public polls show Roberts making a bit of a comeback aftertrailing Orman by as much as 10 points; An NBC News/Marist poll released this week shows Orman leadingby 1 point.

Orman has declined to say which party he'd caucus with, if elected.

Elahe Izadi is a general assignment national reporter for The Washington Post.

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Pat Roberts gets the backing of Tea Party Patriots