year. it's run right inside a republican political consulting firm. to the right sal russo runs the firm. to the left, joe runs the tea party express. their offices are side-by-side. >> reporter: do you think a lot of those tea party activists know that the tea party express is based in an office that's run by republican political consultants? >> i think what you'll find is at tea party rallies, a lot of those people who are mad at the republican party, many are republicans themselves, us included. >> reporter: you're republicans. >> yes. >> reporter: after spending $350 thousand to air pro-scott brown campaign ads, these republican consultants argue the tea party's home is the gop. >> the people who form this movement need a major political party. >> reporter: the movement's future is on the agenda at the first convention set for this