January 20, 11:38 AMDenver Conservative ExaminerKathleen Baker

After the fact, Republican leadership is trying to take credit for Scott Brown’s victory last night. Not so fast, some local grassroots activists say. It was only last week that GOP leadership in Colorado told Lu Busse, chair of the Colorado 9.12 Project, it could not be done. The truth is the Tea Party movement in Colorado joined activists nationwide the day after Christmas when state activists noticed the message spreading on Facebook. On December 26, according to thegreenpapers.com, Scott Brown had one-tenth the campaign contributions of Martha Coakley. It was also on that date Examiner.com reported on Tea Party involvement in the campaign.

The GOP, according to Busse, did not fully get involved in the campaign until January 12, the day after Brown raised $1.3 million in a one-day “money bomb.” These donations came from Americans from all across the country, including Colorado. It was 912 leadership that contacted the GOP to see how they could help Brown’s campaign, not the other way around. Organizers from across the state encouraged local activists to donate time and money to Brown’s campaign. Two members of Loveland 912 actually flew to Boston to drive senior citizens to the polls yesterday.

Lesley Hollywood, Northern Colorado Tea Party director agrees. "Just one month ago the Massachusetts GOP said Scott Brown couldn't win this race. Every media pundit said he couldn't do it. The pollsters said he couldn't do it. But the Tea Party and 912 grassroots said he could do it - and he did. A grassroots fueled Republican has won the most Democratic state in the nation. This is a direct revolt driven by the American People against the out of control congress, administration, and their progressive agenda. Make no mistake, the grassroots won this race. This is just the beginning. This will be an election year dominated by 'We the People'. It is our turn." said Hollywood.

Wondering who the Tea Party is eyeing next? The talk on the street is Tea Partiers are helping Patrick Hughes of Illinois and Edward Lynch of Florida in their primaries on February 2.