PALM BEACH GARDENS — After drawing big crowds to Tax Day protests, town hall meetings and a march on Washington, the Tea Party movement can’t rest on its laurels, former House Majority Leader Dick Armey told a lunchtime gathering of activists here.

Armey, chairman of the Washington-based FreedomWorks group that has helped coordinate Tea Party protests, said conservative activists must continue to fight against an expanded government role in health care and then prepare for a fight on a cap-and-trade environmental bill.

“We’ve got the bad guys on the run,” Armey told a crowd of about 150 that crammed the patio of the Yard House restaurant.

“We have given the massive great big government takeover of health care a TKO for the time being. But they’re not going to go away empty handed,” Armey said.

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Former House Speaker Marco Rubio announced an endorsement this morning from former U.S. House Speaker Dick Armey. Rubio is trying to upset Gov. Charlie Crist in a Republican U.S. Senate primary. From Armey:

“Marco Rubio is a champion of freedom and an inspiring leader for the next generation of the conservative movement. His track record and conservative convictions are a breath of fresh air in a party looking for new leaders to advance the principles of limited government, lower taxes and economic liberty.”

Crist, meanwhile, has picked up several endorsements from Rubio’s backyard in Miami. Last week the brothers Diaz-Balart (U.S. Reps. Lincoln and Mario) announced their support for Crist and Dade County Mayor Carlos Alvarez made his announcement yesterday. From Alvarez:

“Governor Crist has demonstrated his commitment to conservative values that hold government accountable and keep more money in the pockets of hardworking Floridians. He is the common-sense conservative leader we need in Washington, and I am proud to lend my help to his campaign.”

Tax Day is going to be a little more colorful in West Palm Beach.

Republican organizers are putting together an April 15 “tea party” at the county government center.

The protest will mirror similar so-called “tea parties” elsewhere in the country, all against Pres. Barack Obama’s economic policies, bailouts and stimulus packages.

The county’s Young Republicans vice president, Everett Wilkinson, says members are trying to convince local Conservative radio talkmeister Rush Limbaugh to be a keynote speaker.

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