I live in Maine. Haven't and won't vote for Snowe or Collins. I used to express my wishes to them, ask them to defend their positions, etc., and was rewarded with mostly unresponsive gibberish for my efforts.
The GOP lives for power, and recent history (1990+) shows that the GOP is not serious about reducing the role and impact of government in our lives.
Building on my "the GOP is not serious about reducing the role and impact of government in our lives," if and when the GOP grows up, the tea partiers will follow. It's up to the party to win votes.
Blaming the voters you aim to woo is a losers tactic.