"I think that I have the mainstream record,” said Republican U.S. Senate hopeful Sharron Angle, who is "running in a tough GOP primary to take on Democratic Sen. Harry Reid," reports The Daily Caller.

The most important "mainstream," of course, is not merely that of where the current majority of any particular group of people stand, be they Americans, Germans, Italians, or Russians, and so on. As history shows, some "majorities" and some "mainstreams" are toxic and not worthy of human consumption.

For the question of freedom over against tyranny, so well framed by author and radio talk show host Mark Levin, the crucial point is whether one's politics reside within the defining and liberating center of the American mainstream -- that is, within the vision-for-freedom as set forth in the Declaration of Independence (as written, not merely "living") and in the U.S. Constitution (again, as written, and not merely "living").

It is in this sense that the Tea Party phenomenon, as an expression of a New American Resistance, may be part of a movement that "can win the culture war" against the forces of secularism, oppression, and indignity.

Any senatorial candidate, therefore, who affirms in philosophy, principle, politics, and practice the historic and defining American mainstream merits serious consideration.

On this view, an extremist such as Sen. Harry Reid would need to find a new day job. The sooner the better.