US News

Republican in-fighting as voters pick candidates in 7 states

Sep 15, 2010, 11:28 GMT

U.S. Tea Party activists listen to talk-show host and Tea Party organizer Glenn Beck near the steps of the Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall during a rally, called \'Restoring Honor\', that Beck organized in Washington, DC, on 28 August, 2010.EPA/JIM LO SCALZO

Washington - Voters in seven US states were choosing candidates Tuesday in the last round of party voting before nationwide congressional elections in November.

Observers are closely watching contests in states that pit experienced Republican officeholders against political upstarts backed by former vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin and the conservative Tea Party movement.

Outspoken against taxes, big government and President Barack Obama's policies, Tea Party challengers have already toppled Republican establishment candidates in several states this year, most prominently Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski, who suffered a razor-thin loss in her bid last month for renomination.

Tea Party candidates were mounting strong efforts Tuesday in Delaware and New Hampshire congressional primaries and in the race for the governor's nomination in New York.

In the race to fill the Senate seat formerly held by Vice President Joe Biden, moderate Congressman Michael Castle, an unusually popular Republican in the Democratic stronghold of Delaware, faces conservative pundit Christine O'Donnell.

Castle has been favoured in the November general election over Democrat Chris Coons, but an upset by the more right-wing O'Donnell could tip the general election in the Democrats' favour.

In New Hampshire, a four-way Republican race for the party's Senate nomination is led by Kelly Ayotte, a former state attorney general backed by Palin. In New York, former Congressman Rick Lazio faces businessman Carl Paladino for the party's nod for governor.

Voters in the nation's capital, Washington, will chose the Democratic candidate for mayor in a primary that essentially choses the overwhelmingly Democratic city's next leader. One-term Mayor Adrian Fenty is facing an uphill fight against City Council Chairman Vincent Gray.

Voters in November will choose the entire 435-member US House of Representatives and 37 seats in the 100-member Senate. At the state level, 37 of the 50 states are holding elections for governor, plus elections for state legislatures and local government offices.

The November vote is seen as a key referendum on President Barack Obama's first two years in office.