More Primary Impetus

Primaries today in Colorado, Connecticut, Minnesota, and a runoff in Georgia to boot.

For starters, there is the senate primary race in Colorado, with incumbent Senator Michael Bennet looking to beat the challenger Andrew Romanoff on the Democratic side and the Tea Party favorite Ken Buck taking on the candidate backed by the Republican establishment, Jane Norton.

In Connecticut, Linda McMahon, the former pro-wrestling executive, faces off in the Republican Senate primary against Peter Schiff and Rob Simmons. Mr. Simmons is the former congressman who had put his campaign into hibernation only to revive it in the last few weeks. (The Democratic and G.O.P. nominations for governor are also up for grabs, with Ned Lamont, the Democrat who ran for Senate four years ago, among those on the ballot.)

Down in Georgia, the Republican runoff for governor features a former secretary of state, Karen Handel, and a former congressman, Nathan Deal. On Monday, Sarah Palin was in the Atlanta area to campaign for Ms. Handel, who captured the most votes in last month’s primary. Mr. Deal, meanwhile, has the support of Newt Gingrich and Mike Huckabee.

Minnesota has both Republican and Democratic gubernatorial primaries as well. 

A lot of these are going to be close, close races too.  Keep an eye on who wins here, the establishment folks or the outsiders.  Georgia is doubly important:  Sarah Palin's endorsements have recently been the kiss of death and Newt carries a hell of a big stick in Georgia politics still.  I think Nathan Deal will win.