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Its all about protecting loyal friends and eliminating a few troublemakers.

Thats the business communitys goal in U.S. House elections amid a power struggle between the limited-government Tea Party movement and more traditional Republicans. While control of the Senate is Novembers main prize, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce is spending heavily in select House races, including one in Idaho where the Republican primary is tomorrow.

The nations largest business-lobbying group hasnt said how much it will spend in the 2014 election, though it probably will exceed the $33.8 million in 2010. The Chamber has already aired television ads in more than 20 House and Senate races, and its expected to intervene in key districts to defend pro-business House Republicans against Tea Party opponents, or to help business-friendly challengers unseat Tea Party incumbents.

The aim is to send a chilling message to the Tea Partys most zealous members, as well as bolster Republicans who have been loyal to House Speaker John Boehner and taken tough votes, such as those to raise the federal debt ceiling.

It all started in the Alabama special late last year, when one candidate vowed to come to D.C. and shut the place down, said Republican political strategist Scott Reed, who advises the Chamber of Commerce. He lost and a strong conservative was elected.

That race for an open House seat featured Dean Young, a self-described Tea Party Republican who questioned President Barack Obamas birthplace and pledged to shut down the federal government over the Affordable Care Act. Defeating him in the primary was business-backed Bradley Byrne, the Chambers first victory since it pledged to be more active.

With Republicans expected to retain their House majority in Novembers elections, a reduced Tea Party caucus -- now numbering about three or four dozen members among the Houses 233 Republicans -- could give Boehner greater flexibility in 2015. It may decrease the intra-party fighting thats plagued him since he became speaker in 2011 and help with passage of business priorities, including infrastructure spending.

We are supporting candidates that are committed to the growth agenda, understand and support the importance of governing and can win in November, Reed said.

Tomorrows primary in a district that includes Idahos Snake River Canyon offers one of this years purest tests in the intra-Republican fight. It pits eight-term Representative Mike Simpson, an Appropriations subcommittee chairman and Boehner ally, against Bryan Smith, a lawyer and political novice aligned with the Tea Party.

If Smith fails in Idaho, it will raise questions about where the Tea Party can score a major victory this year.

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Chilling Election Message to Tea Party Is Business Goal