June 13, 2014 11:42 AM UTC

After Cantor's fall, who's the tea-partiest of them all?

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• by: Jason Salzman

(Promoted by Colorado Pols)

After House Majority Leader Eric Cantor's crash, you naturally wonder which Republicans in Colorado's gubernatorial primary are out-of-the-closet tea partiers. Arguably, they're all closeted tea-party types, at a minimum, but who lets his tea-party flag fly?

Colorado's gubernatorial race has been spotlighted nationally as the next big test of tea-party strength, post Eric Cantor. So Republican voters may want to know which of the leading candidates self-identify as tea party.

Local talk-radio hosts have been out in front on this story.

Despite his tea-party record, Bob Beauprez has ducked the question in different ways. In one instance, on KOA's Mike Rosen show, he said:

Caller Doug: My question for Rep Beauprez: Is he more aligned with the traditional Republican Party or more aligned with the tea p?

Beauprez: I'm more aligned with, some people would call them, conservative values, traditional values. I think both of the groups that you highlight, in general, adhere to the same.

On the other hand, Tom Tancredo told KNUS' Steve Kelley Wednesday:

Tancredo: I love the tea party. I believe they have been a very healthy force inside this body politic, especially for Republicans. I believe it has helped move the party to the right, although it's been done begrudgingly on the part the party itself. A lot of people resent it and resist it. No, I think they've been helpful.

Listen to Tancredo discusses the tea party on KNUS Kelley and Company 06-11-14