Will the Tea Party help Gingrich in Florida?

After Mitt Romney easily won New Hampshire two weeks ago, following his win (we thought) in Iowa, CL and others noted that the three-year history of Tea Party influence in the national Republican Party was at stake in the critical primary in South Carolina, where a Romney victory might have sealed his nomination.

That didn't happen, of course, and according to exit polling data, Tea Party support was critical to Newt Gingrich's victory there.

The question now is, Can Newt rely on Tea Party support in Florida? The group has had plenty of influence in Florida politics over the past few years.

On Thursday morning, Gingrich will begin his campaign day at a Tea Party rally in Mount Dora.

This article appears in Jan 19-25, 2012.