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The conservative Tea Party movement has claimed several victories over mainstream Republicans in primary contests ahead of November's US mid-term elections.

In one of the biggest upsets, Tea Party-backed candidate Christine O'Donnell defeated a veteran congressman for the Senate nomination in Delaware.

Here, two American voters share their contrasting views on the wins and look ahead to November's polls.

I am so happy with these results, especially Christine O'Donnell's win in the Delaware primary.

People are saying she has no chance in the mid-terms, but there are seven weeks left for her to spread her message of change.

I want change but a different kind of change than was promised in 2008. I'm tired of the same kind of career politicians spending our public money. I want smaller government of the kind advocated by Ronald Reagan.

I'm no economist, but I don't think it makes sense to spend our way out of recession. And the trillions we have spent haven't helped - unemployment is still high and small businesses are not thriving.

These are the reasons I voted for Ms O'Donnell in the primary. And these are the reasons I'm active in the Tea Party movement which advocates smaller government. I've been to rallies and handed out literature.

People call the Tea Party a radical movement but I don't think it is. We are moving away from career politicians and we are demanding change, but we are not an extreme organisation.

Come the election, I think we can win over a large percentage of independents and the conservative "Blue dog" Democrats who voted for Obama.

I really hope that in seven weeks the American people will open up their ears and minds to the Tea Party - and give its candidates a fair chance.

The Tea Party represents the Republican fringe - white, ultra-conservative and right wing.

We can only hope the electorate shows up at the polls in November and sends them home.

The movement represents some of the worst of American culture. I don't think they really understand what they are demanding.

They are anti-government, but they don't understand that the state needs to provide schools and roads and other basics. They just want to take a fly swatter to the whole government entity.

From the perspective of a registered Democrat, I can only see a group who just say what they are against. They aren't proposing anything positive.

They're also lashing out at the wrong people. We may be in a lot of debt now, but it is 30 years of Republican spending that has got us here. We're in a deep recession now and I think we have to spend money to help us out of it.

The Tea Party movement wouldn't be as strong if it wasn't for the state of the economy. A lot of people are upset because the economy is in a bad shape. Many people are hurting or looking for work and they want to lash out at something.

I think the movement represents a split in the Republican Party and the Democrats must drive a wedge through them. That way the Democrats could salvage control of both houses.

But I think the Tea Party will do well in Kentucky in November. There are many conservative people here who will listen to the their "God and country" message.