Antique bricks and plaster provided the backdrop for a campaign pitch steeped in old-time religion and pulpit humor at a gathering of Vicksburg Tea Party supporters Thursday night.

George Bailey, one of three candidates in the Republican primary for the U.S. House seat in the 2nd Congressional District, stressed a theme of “core values” to about 30 who attended a covered-dish function in the steamy second floor of Adolph Rose Antiques on Clay Street.

“We are in trouble in America because we got away from this,” said Bailey, as he held a Bible aloft during opening remarks.

Bailey, 65, a Texas-born minister in Clinton and relative political newcomer, faces Bill Marcy of Meridian and Richard Cook of Byram in primary voting June 1. U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., is unopposed in the primary and will face the winner in the Nov. 2 general election. Thompson has represented the district since 1993. The three GOP candidates have limited campaign experience — Bailey, a failed bid for New Mexico governor, Marcy, two runs for the state Legislature in the Meridian area, and Cook, a loss to Thompson four years ago.

All three have courted the support of the Tea Party movement, begun in the early weeks of the Obama administration originally to protest taxes, government spending and favor strict adherence to the Constitution. Other tenets of modern-day conservatism have emerged at rallies in many states, including Mississippi, and the movement steadily has become more associated with individual candidates.

Nine Tea Party groups in Mississippi reported to news outlets this week they had unified into the Mississippi Tea Party, making the state among the first to form a statewide association, according to a release.

Bailey’s comments were longer on general, cultural references than specific issues. He hammered at Thompson and President Obama with a barrage of broadsides — “socialist,” “intimidator” and “dictator,” among others — and GOP rival Marcy, whom he berated for claiming front-runner status on the stump.

“What were good Christians and core-value people doing?” Bailey said as he spoke to nods and amens on the issue of prayer in schools. “The more they started pressing us, we started doing like a Michael Jackson — we were doing the moonwalk. As we back up, they step in.”

Also addressing the Tea Party was state Rep. Alex Monsour, R-Vicksburg, on hand to distribute certificates of appreciation bearing the signature of Gov. Haley Barbour recognizing members for placing the Voter Identification Initiative on the 2011 general election ballot. Monsour also is a coordinator of a petition drive to amend the state constitution to nullify, in part, the federal health care reform law.