"In Summer 2009, something stirred in America. After Barack Obama and a Democratic congress swept to power promising a new era of hope and change, out of nowhere the emergence of a citizens protest movement called the Tea Party threatened to derail their agenda. Was this uprising the epitome of grassroots democracy? Or was it, as some said, an example of “astroturfing” - the creation of fake grassroots groups, designed to put corporate messages in the mouths of seemingly independent citizens?" LinkTV.org
Note that despite the Tea Party Mission Statement citing fiscal responsibility as being at the top of their list of core values, the above chart from opensecrets.org shows the 2010 Tea Party USA PAC spending well exceeds funds raised.
The Texas Tea Party had quite a larger income, but not a dime is noted as going to a single actual candidate.