Editor's Note: CNN's Jim Acosta takes you inside the Tea Party movement and sits down with those who started it to talk about the factions within the movement and the first ever 'Tea Party Convention.' Tomorrow on American Morning, we'll tell you about a Carnival cruise to the Caribbean where Tea Party protesters sound off on the president.

By Jim Acosta, CNN

For Republican Florida Governor Charlie Crist it's the hug that just won't let go.

His embrace of the president and of the stimulus program at a town hall meeting last year could cost this once rising GOP star a shot at a U.S. Senate seat.

Meet Marco Rubio. He's a darling of the Tea Party movement and is challenging Crist for the GOP nomination for that Senate seat.

"What I find at these events are folks who've never been involved in politics before," says Rubio.

Rubio takes his message of smaller government and lower taxes to Tea Party rallies. And his YouTube page features Tea Party activists venting their anger at Washington.

Polls show Rubio has closed a 30 point gap and just might win the party primary.

Would he be the first Tea Party senator if elected?

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