Republican civil war erupts: Business groups v. Tea Party

A battle for control of the Republican Party is raging following the Oct. 16 vote to end the government shutdown. Bloomberg reports the emboldened Tea Party is moving to oust senators who voted to reopen the government while business groups mobilized to defeat allies of the small-government movement.

For example, Bloomberg reports two Washington-based groups that finance Tea Party-backed candidates said they’re supporting efforts to defeat Mississippi Sen. Thad Cochran, who voted to end the shutdown.

So far, seven Republican senators face a primary challenge during the 2014 midterm elections. Republicans currently control 45 of 100 seats in the Senate and 232 of 435 in the U.S. House.

Favorability of the Republican Party his a record low of 28 percent in an Oct. 3-6 Gallup Poll.

Read more from Bloomberg.