Alabama Tea Party Express Backs Barber Over Roby

A week after Republican frontrunner Martha Roby was forced into a runoff in Alabama's 5th district GOP primary, local tea party activists are rallying to the cause of her opponent, businessman Rick Barber.

The Alabama Tea Party Express released a statement on its website Wednesday attacking Roby's conservative credentials and her ties to the party establishment: "We aren't telling anyone 'what' to do but if one is a conservative, one will be working toward getting Rick Barber, candidate for Congress in Alabama's 2nd District into the general election in November."

The statement attacked Roby -- who had been considered a top recruit by establishment Republicans -- for proposing new taxes while serving on the Montgomery City Council and for supporting a budget proposed by Rep. Bobby Bright (D) when he served as Mayor of Montgomery.

The group described Roby, who outspent Barber 7-to-1 in the primary, as a "GOP sweetheart" and a Republican in name only.

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