Kansas GOP Sen. Roberts grabs early primary lead

Source: AP-Excite

By DONNA CASSATA

WASHINGTON (AP) — Three-term Republican Sen. Pat Roberts maintained a double-digit lead over tea party favorite Milton Wolf in Kansas' primary Tuesday night in the latest contest pitting mainstream conservatives against the upstart movement. A first-term Michigan GOP congressman struggled to hold onto his seat.

With 7 percent of the precincts reporting, Roberts held a 51 percent to 38 percent edge over Wolf, a radiologist and distant cousin of President Barack Obama.

The GOP establishment blames the tea party for costing it Senate control in 2010 and 2012 as outside candidates stumbled in the general election. Republicans need to net six seats to regain the Senate, and the party has taken no chances this election cycle, putting its full force behind incumbents and mainstream candidates.

Tuesday also offered competitive primaries in Michigan, Missouri and Washington state. Businessman Dave Trott held a solid lead — 66 percent to 34 percent — over first-term Rep. Kerry Bentivolio in Michigan's 11th Congressional District, a reversal of the recent political order of tea partyers aiming to knock out an establishment favorite.

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FILE - This July 7, 2014 file photo shows 4th District GOP candidate candidate Todd Tiahrt in Wichita. Kansas' 4th District GOP primary pits incumbent Mike Pompeo of Wichita against the man who previously held the seat, Todd Tiahrt. (AP Photo/The Wichita Eagle, Mike Hutmacher, File)


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