No Big Surprises in Primaries held Yesterday

George Wenschhof

Former President Bill Clinton showed he still has clout in Arkansas as incumbent Democrat Senator Blanche Lincoln won a hard fought battle against Lt. Governor Bill Halter 52% - 48%.

In California, it will be Republican Meg Whitman who will face former Democratic Governor Jerry Brown. In the California senate race, it will be Republican Carly Fiorina against incumbent Democrat Barbara Boxer.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D) will face Republican Sharon Angle who won the republican primary with only 40%. This is good news for Reid who just 8 weeks ago was considered vulnerable. Look to see Reid to win reelection by a comfortable margin in November.

Also in Nevada, incumbent Republican Governor Jim Gibbons (27%) was beaten by Brian Sandoval (55%).

The intrigue in South Carolina for the Republican nomination for governor is not over as Republican Nikki Haley (48.8%) failed to obtain 50% of the vote against her main opponent Graham Bennett (21.8%). A runoff election will be held in several weeks. Haley was accused of infidelity and also called a "raghead" by a supporter of her opponent. let's see if the Republicans continue to beat themselves up prior to the runoff election. Look to see Haley win.

Republican candidates in the 4th congressional district are also facing another runoff in South Carolina. Incumbent Bob Inglis (27%) will face Trey Gowdy (39%) with Gowdy favored to win easily.

One thing that is becoming clearer as a result of the early primaries is the Republican Party does not have a message or a leader as they did in the 1994 mid term elections when they recaptured majority of the House. Then, it was Minority Leader Newt Gingrich and his "Contract with America" that helped swing the voters their way.

While history tells us is the political party who is in the White House loses an average of 25-35 House seats in mid term elections, do not look to see that figure increase. As long as Republicans continue to battle each other with no clear message, Democrats will maintain a majority in the House.

As long as the National Republican Party message is simply "No" to Democratic proposals, Democrats will remain in the majority in Congress.

Politic.com has all the results from all the states here.

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