On today's Thom Hartmann program, Judsen Phillps was a guest. He is the founder of Tea Party Nation and lives VA-7, so he has ground-level knowledge of how Brat defeated Cantor despite being out-spent 40-1.
It was social media and grassroots action.
Brat spammed the Internet with tweets and Facebook posts. These are free and reach more people than expensive traditional media ads and yard signs. Cantor relied on traditional media.
Brat also used the shoe leather. He held town meetings and worked the ground game. Cantor made exactly one appearance in the district (and a Commencement or something) and was actually booed.
It appears that Koch money may not be the advantage they think it is.
If Jack Trammell pays attention and does the same, there may be another surprise in the general.
Oh, and Brat is still a teabagger. You know he's going to say something (or lots of somethings) really stupid.
Update: Judsen Phillips is also on Sam Seder's show Ring of Fire.
Judsen repeats that it was a perfect storm for the challenger. Brat used social media effectively. Eric Cantor acted like an arrogant dick. Eric campaigned against immigration reform (amnesty), but the Republican voters thought his actions were just the opposite. Brat continually campaigned against immigration reform.