Two Congressional hopefuls get Tea Party endorsements

CEDAR RAPIDS – The founder of the Cedar Rapids Tea Party has endorsed Dubuque businessman Rod Blum in the U.S. House 1

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District Republican primary.

Blum is facing Independence attorney Ben Lange, who was the GOP challenger to Democratic Rep. Bruce Braley of Waterloo in 2010.

Despite of Lange coming within 2 percentage points of defeating Braley in 2010, Cedar Rapids Tea Party founder Tim Pugh said Blum is the only candidate “with the expoerienjce and skills needed to defeat (Braley).”

He also cited Blum's understanding of the Constitution “as a guide for his decisions and votes.”

Blum has promised to accept only $39,366 – the median income for an American - of the $175,000 congressional salary, Pugh said.

Lange has his own Tea Party supporters. Sen. Brad Zaun, R-Urbandale, who was endorsed by Tea Party activists in 2010 when he challenged Rep. Leonard Boswell, has endorsed Lange, calling him one of a “new breed of conservative leader.”

Lange will carry the “fight for individual liberty” to Congress, Zaun said.