Shadow
08-14-2012, 06:10 AM
WASHINGTON (AP) — Two veteran Republicans, former Wisconsin Gov. Tommy Thompson and Florida Rep. John Mica, are facing strong challenges in primary contests that reflect the rift in the GOP between grass-roots conservatives and the party's establishment candidates.
Those races headline Tuesday's primaries in four states, including Connecticut and Minnesota.
Wisconsin and Florida are the latest battlegrounds for tea party forces and other conservative activists hoping to add to big wins this year in the Indiana and Texas GOP Senate primaries. Tea party candidates scored major gains in 2010 congressional races, but they've had mixed success since.
Thompson, who served as Health and Human Services secretary under President George W. Bush, is in a tough four-way race to succeed retiring Democratic Sen. Herb Kohl. His challengers have cast themselves as closer to today's more conservative GOP than the 70-year-old Thompson.
Thompson was governor for 14 years, but the party has become more conservative since he left the post for the Bush administration in 2001.
http://news.yahoo.com/gop-activists-vs-veterans-wis-fla-primaries-070014351.html
Those races headline Tuesday's primaries in four states, including Connecticut and Minnesota.
Wisconsin and Florida are the latest battlegrounds for tea party forces and other conservative activists hoping to add to big wins this year in the Indiana and Texas GOP Senate primaries. Tea party candidates scored major gains in 2010 congressional races, but they've had mixed success since.
Thompson, who served as Health and Human Services secretary under President George W. Bush, is in a tough four-way race to succeed retiring Democratic Sen. Herb Kohl. His challengers have cast themselves as closer to today's more conservative GOP than the 70-year-old Thompson.
Thompson was governor for 14 years, but the party has become more conservative since he left the post for the Bush administration in 2001.
http://news.yahoo.com/gop-activists-vs-veterans-wis-fla-primaries-070014351.html