After weeks of helping back the re-election of freshman Republican lawmakers around Rep. Joe Walsh, the National Republican Congressional Committee has made a large cable television ad buy to assist the controversial tea party-backed candidate in his race with Democratic challenger Tammy Duckworth.

Former Fox television commentator Glenn Beck will be among the headliners this month when tea party supporters gather in Illinois to hold the Midwest Tea Party convention in Schaumburg, officials announced Monday.

Fresh off a week of stunning Republican primary victories, several thousand exuberant and newly-empowered tea party followers descended on the Sears Centre Arena in Hoffman Estates on Saturday for Right Nation 2010 — a carefully choreographed night of conservative political cheerleading, headlined by radio and TV host Glenn Beck.