Reno , Nevada ( CNN ) -- Sarah Palin warned Monday that the mainstream Republican Party must embrace the core conservative principles of the Tea Party movement or disappear . In comments to CNN at a Tea Party Express rally to kick off its fourth national tour , Palin said the Republican Party machine realizes how the Tea Party movement 's `` we the people '' message has resonated on the political right , as well as with independents and moderates . The message emphasizes free market principles and individual and state powers instead of expanded federal powers . `` Heaven forbid the GOP machine strays from this message , '' said the former Alaska governor and unsuccessful Republican vice presidential candidate . `` If so , the GOP is through . '' Her comments , in response to the question of whether the Tea Party movement is dividing the Republican Party , showed how Palin and other Tea Party leaders are trying to galvanize the political right by bringing their supporters together with the traditional GOP structures . Tea Party-backed candidates have defeated mainstream Republican candidates , including several congressional incumbents , in several primaries across the country this year . In some cases , the Tea Party victories have harmed Republican chances for victory . For example , Palin backed Christine O'Donnell over nine-term Republican Rep. Mike Castle , a former governor , in Delaware 's GOP Senate primary . Castle was considered a likely general election winner , but the primary upset by the inexperienced and controversial O'Donnell now makes a Democratic victory likely in the November 2 vote . In her speech at Monday 's rally , Palin said the Republican Party should `` man up '' and support Tea Party candidates such as O'Donnell , who has been criticized by some Republican figures , including longtime strategist Karl Rove . `` The bigwigs in the machine , they 're driving me crazy because they 're too chicken to support the Tea Party candidates , '' Palin said at Monday 's rally . `` The ideas of the Tea Party movement are the American ideals that will put us back to work . '' Palin to GOP : 'Man up ' She also told the crowd to support Tea Party candidates for the good of America 's future . In her comments to CNN , Palin called for Republican moderates and independents to embrace the `` time-tested truths '' of `` commonsense '' conservative principles , but she also noted that `` the planks in the GOP platform really are the strongest , most solid planks to build a strong economy , because it 's all about entrepreneurial spirit and equal prosperity and opportunity according to a work ethic . '' Her speech Monday followed an appearance Saturday in California with Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele . The Tea Party Express tour , titled `` Liberty at the Ballot Box , '' is the group 's fourth since 2009 and their last of the 2010 election cycle . Their prime tactic is to crisscross the country urging voters to oust Democrats from office and purge the Republican Party of members deemed `` RINOs , '' or `` Republicans in Name Only , '' considered not conservative enough . It will make 30 stops over 15 days , ending in Concord , New Hampshire , one day before the critical congressional elections . Monday 's crowd was considerably smaller than the last rally Palin kicked off for the Tea Party Express , in Searchlight , Nevada , in March . Palin has lent political star power and considerable time helping to spread the message of Tea Party movement , which includes smaller government , lower taxes , deflating a bloated federal deficit and urging lawmakers toward more faithful adherence to the Constitution . She and other supporters of the movement staunchly support Nevada GOP Senate candidate Sharron Angle in the race against the top Democrat in the Senate : Majority Leader Harry Reid . Polls show the race between the two candidates to be essentially deadlocked . Democrats continue to push their own strategy to smack back the bids of Tea Party candidates . Vice President Joe Biden will campaign for Reid in Reno on Wednesday , and President Barack Obama will appear at fundraisers on Reid 's behalf on Friday .
NEW : Palin says the Republican Party is `` through '' if it strays from Tea Party principles . The Tea Party Express launches its fourth nationwide tour . Score: 6