is a good public servant. >> i say one fight senator cochran has put out against barack obama. name one time he has raised his voice in defense of conservatism. >> reporter: for the tea party movement after a string of primary losses this year, mcdaniel has been their great hope, the best chance of toppling a republican, especially after this cochran stumble. >> the tea party, you know, is something that i don't really know a lot about. >> reporter: millions of dollars pouring into mississippi against cochran come from a who's who of tea party groups nationwide. >> mcdaniel says he is a life-long republican. >> reporter: but like other republican incumbents, this year cochran and his allies are fighting back, painting mcdaniel as extreme and inconsistent. after four decades in washington, cochran has loyal supporters like this democratic mayor. >> you're a democrat. >> yes. >> reporter: and you're supporting senator cochran? >> yes. >> reporter: why is that? >> one is that i understand politics, and i understand what is needed in a state.