The nomination process to fill the vacancy on the Supreme Court could provide an opportunity for the Tea Party to expand its platform -- whether all of the supporters of the movement like it or not.

While many Tea Party organizations shy away from formally taking on issues outside of fiscal responsibility and limited government, there are signs that the conservative views of the Tea Party may extend to the social issues that occupy most nomination battles. If this is indeed the case, a liberal court nominee could spur protest from the movement on many grounds, including abortion rights, gay marriage and immigration.

When Justice Sonya Sotomayor was nominated last May, Tea Party groups were just coming off of their first nationwide event, the Tax Day Tea Parties. When confirmation hearings were being held in the summer, the groups were mounting opposition to health care reform. Even if the Tea Party had launched a campaign against Sotomayor, it wasn't until the town hall protests of August that the Tea Party had the ear of the public.

This time around it could be different. Now, with national media examining how this band of political neophytes might impact the makeup of the House and Senate, the Tea Party supporters could seize the spotlight in an attempt to influence the makeup of the nation's highest court as well.

But could such a move risk fracturing the movement? A USA Today/Gallup poll found that a majority of Tea Partiers don't consider themselves Republicans -- a fact that many in the movement have used to bolster its "big tent" image. And the conservative Winston Group found that 4 in 10 Tea Party members are Democrats or independents. But this could just be a matter of nomenclature, since other surveys, like one from the University of Washington, have found that the movement attracts more conservatives. If that's the case, then a SCOTUS fight could actually strengthen the movement.

One thing is fairly certain: Tea Party members oppose Obama, and therefore might be inclined to be critical of his Supreme Court pick. Here are five issues that members of the Tea Party could likely weigh in on as the nomination process proceeds:

Health Care Reform
The ongoing health care controversy could bring Republicans and Tea Party activists together during confirmation hearings. "I'd expect the constitutionality of federally enforcing the purchase of a good or service to enter the debate," GOP strategist Mindy Finn told Mother Jones. Fourteen states have filed lawsuits against the federal government challenging the new law's individual mandate.

Immigration
Immigration is one social issue that the Tea Party has directly embraced. Rallies against "amnesty" will be held this week under the banner of the Tea Party movement. In the Arizona Senate race, immigration policy marks a key point of contention between Republican John McCain and his primary opponent, former Rep. J.D. Hayworth, whom Tea Party activists are rallying behind. In Texas, a Tea Party Patriots coordinator is eyeing opposition to immigration reform as the next frontier for Tea Party activism.

Abortion Rights
While Tea Party leaders might hedge on discussing abortion, there's no denying the anti-abortion signs and t-shirts sold at events. Many prominent Tea Party allies -- like former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, and Reps. Steve King, R-Iowa, and Michele Bachmann, R-Minn. -- are strong opponents of abortion rights. Tea Party Nation opposed abortion language in health care reform legislation, and Our Country Deserves Better PAC helped drive Rep. Bart Stupak, D-Mich., out of office -- though ostensibly for his vote on health care, not for his compromise on abortion.

Gun Rights
Guns have played a prominent role in critics' attempts to disparage the Tea Party movement and paint activists as short-tempered gun-toters who should not be taken seriously. But activists haven't been shy about sporting National Rifle Association gear or, in some cases, bringing their guns to protests and rallies. Tea Party ally Marco Rubio has defended Tea Partiers' right to bring guns to rallies. The Tea Party could feel the need to defend 2nd Amendment rights, particularly because gun owners have been feeling vulnerable under Obama.

Gay Marriage
Though members of the Tea Party deny allegations that they shouted anti-gay slurs at Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., Tea Party activists have sent other signals suggesting they'd take issue with a SCOTUS nominee who would back gay marriage. Groups in the Tea Party Movement have, on more than one occasion, partnered with Family Research Council, which opposes gay marriage. At one recent Tea Party rally in Michigan, a sponsor was selling "Straight Pride" T-shirts to raise money for the movement. And at the Tea Party Nation's national convention, Baptist pastor Rick Scarborough, a well-known opponent of gay marriage, was a featured speaker.