Tea party activists make headway in Senate races

WASHINGTON - Christine O'Donnell, virtually unknown a month ago, rode a surge of support from tea party activists to victory in the Delaware Republican Senate primary last night in an upset as stunning as any other in a season of recession and political upheaval.

O'Donnell defeated Rep. Mike Castle, a fixture in Delaware politics for a generation who campaigned with the strong backing of party officials. She will enter the fall campaign as an underdog to Chris Coons, a county executive who was unopposed for the Democratic nomination for a seat Vice President Joe Biden held for 36 years.

In New Hampshire, a second upstart, lawyer Ovide Lamontagne, led former Attorney General Kelly Ayotte, 45 percent to 35 percent, with votes counted from 18 percent of the precincts for the GOP nomination. A former chairman of the state Board of Education, he campaigned with the support of tea party activists, while Ayotte had a coalition of establishment Republicans, former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin and other conservatives.

Five states chose nominees for Senate, and six more had gubernatorial hopefuls on primary ballots. Republicans must gain 10 seats this fall if they are to win control of the Senate. Their chances count heavily on their ability to prevail in Delaware and New Hampshire.

Republicans in New Hampshire sorted through a crowded field of candidates for the nomination to a seat long held by retiring GOP Sen. Judd Gregg. The winner will face Democratic Rep. Paul Hodes, who is giving up his seat in the House to run for the Senate.

In Wisconsin, businessman Ron Johnson beat back two minor opponents for the Republican nomination to oppose three-term Democratic Sen. Russ Feingold in November in what polls show is a tight race.

Rhode Island had a rare open seat in its two-member House delegation. Providence Mayor David Cicilline, who is openly gay, was favored over three rivals for the Democratic nomination.