IF candidates are identifying themselves as "Tea Party candidates,"

[Skidmore]

why is there not an insistence they run as such? That the party be established?

[HopeHoops]

1. They are - it is called "The Republican Party".

[Populist_Prole]

2. Probably because they're afraid it would split the conservative vote

Even the most intellectually honest tea party members have to know that anymore, the word "tea party" is just a term invoked to denote a more hard right "pure" republican anyway.

[JoePhilly]

3. Its a new brand ... Tea Party Republican.

They got tired of being called "Crazy right wing Republicans", so they came up with a new term.

[csziggy]

4. In Florida there was a Tea Party candidate in 2010

But then the Tea Party disintegrated. I think the guy that originally founded it in Florida does not agree with the tea bagger variety and objected to them using 'his' party. I did not keep track of the entire debate.

I don't have time now to look up what happened with it - maybe later.

[Wait Wut]

5. 100% Agree.

You can now wear teaper shirts to some polling places in AZ. Why? Because some moron said the teapers have no "party affiliation".

Screw that. Make them own up to it.