Tea Party Nation founders Judson and Sherry Phillips have endorsed Robin Smith in the 3rd Congressional District Republican primary.

"Robin is a true conservative," Mr. Phillips said in a news release. "She has supported the tea party movement since its beginning and spoke at the very first tea party rally I held at Legislative Plaza in downtown Nashville in February 2009."

He said "some politicians waited to see which way the wind was blowing," but that Mrs. Smith "jumped in with her convictions and her full support."

"Other politicians conditioned their support on being publicly associated with the tea party movement and wanted to know what they could gain," said Mr. Phillips. "Robin, on the other, has worked tirelessly behind the scenes motivated only by her desire to help this country."

Tea Party Nation joins Chattanooga Tea Party leaders Mark West and Karen Chastain in endorsing Mrs. Smith.