The Tea Party Express today endorsed Republican Tom Smith for U.S. Senate.

Tom Smith, file photo. GREG WOHLFORD/

Fresh off Tuesday’s win for the GOP nomination in a five-man field, Smith will now try to unseat U.S. Bob Casey, D-Pa. Casey also won his party’s nomination Tuesday.

The Tea Party Express, billing itself as the nation’s largest Tea Party political action committee, endorsed Smith during a national bus tour kick-off rally outside of Pittsburgh.

Tea Party Express Chairwoman Amy Kremer, in a statement, criticized Casey for voting for the stimulus package and health-care reform.

“As someone who has lived the American dream, Tom has become a successful businessman that created thousands of jobs in the coal industry,” she said.

Smith is a former coal-company owner from Armstrong County. He also was the founder of a tea party group.

“We don’t need just another politician to go along to get along, but we need an innovative conservative willing to make the tough decisions. That’s Tom,” she said.

Casey, however, has been touting his independence from the White House.

– John Guerriero