activists venting their anger at washington. he has closed the gap and might win the primary. would you be the first tea party senator? >> i'm running as a republican. >> reporter: a political party. >> it's not a political party. >> reporter: crist by contrast is no tea party activist. have you sat down with a tea party and talked to them? >> no. >> reporter: not once? >> no, i'd be happy to. >> reporter: for the tea party express there's anner. >> the republicans embracing massive tax-and-spend policies, that's what the gop is about, and that's what charlie crist did. >> reporter: republicans and even former democrats are ready to take down some of the biggest names in politics from democratic majority senator harry reid to republican john mccain. but democrats say all that infighting between crist and rubio actually presents an