NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – Call it the Revenge of the Incumbents:
Tennessee's Lamar Alexander is the latest Senate Republican staring down a primary
challenge and trying to blunt any early momentum from tea party-backed
opposition.
The former two-term governor has locked down endorsements, banked more
than $3 million for his re-election and linked arms with popular Sen. Rand
Paul of Kentucky and former GOP presidential contender Mike Huckabee. When
conservative state Rep. Joe Carr announced last week that he would
challenge Alexander, the senator's team was ready.
Like Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, Lindsey Graham of
South Carolina and Mike Enzi of Wyoming, Alexander is seeking to avoid the
fates of former Senate colleagues who were bounced by tea party challengers
in 2010 and 2012.
