Primary Elections May 18, 2010: Who’s In The Ring? Who Will Be Knocked Out? Let’s Chat!

It’s been a ‘rock em sock em’ year for incumbent politicians. Will America’s anti-Washington mood prove to be a sucker punch at the polls? Join us on Mitt Romney Central’s chat forum tomorrow, May 18^th at 7:00 PM ET. We’re pulling up a ring-side seat to discuss primary voting results for big bout races while establishment candidates take on their opponents.

In the ring tomorrow:

Joe Sestak vs Arlen Specter

Specter vs Sestak – Pennsylvania Senate Democrat primary: Five term incumbent, former Republican, Democrat-for-a-year Arlen Specter is the palooka facing retired Navy admiral Joe Sestak. With the White House and DSCC (Democrat Senatorial Campaign Committee) heavily invested in Specter’s campaign, this is going to be an a knock-down drag-out match. Quinnipiac polling shows a statistical dead heat between the two contenders.  Will ‘corner man’ Obama pull it off?

Bill Halter vs Blanche Lincoln

Lincoln vs Halter – Arkansas Senate Democrat primary: Running for a third term in this swing state, centrist Senator Blanche Lincoln squares off against Lt. Gov. Bill Halter. Criticizing Lincoln for not supporting a public health care option while Obamacare was debated, Halter has the backing of Move On.org, unions, and other liberal Democrat groups. Halter also hopes to land an uppercut against Lincoln because she worked to block the EPA from regulating greenhouse-gas emissions. Lincoln is relying on her position as Chairman of the Agricultural Committee to carry weight with voters in heavily agricultural Arkansas. She will need over 50% of the vote to avoid a ‘split-decision’ run-off.

Rand Paul vs Trey Grayson

Grayson vs Paul – Kentucky Senate Republican primary: The gloves are off as Trey Grayson, Kentucky’s secretary of state, battles Dr. Rand Paul (Ron Paul’s son), to capture the seat of retiring Senator Jim Bunning. Grayson, endorsed by Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, is the establishment candidate and was favored early on. He is also endorsed by Dick Cheney, Rudy Giuliani, and Rick Santorum. Grayson says his experience, problem solving skills, and cuts in his offices’ budget qualify him for the senate seat. However, recent polls give the lead to Paul who is backed by Tea Party groups who have held rallies and made phone calls in his favor. Rand is also endorsed by Sarah Palin. Senator Jim DeMint, and evangelical leader Dr. James Dobson.

Obama slugs for Specter:

Mitch McConnell takes a swing for Trey Grayson:

James Dobson roots for Rand Paul:

Republican and Democrat Gubernatorial Mail-In Primaries in Oregon: These primaries have been on the back page of the roster because, as State Republican Chairman Bob Tiernan says, “There’s a simple reason; we don’t have any Republicans in statewide office.” Democrats hold every statewide office in Oregon, control both houses of the Legislature and occupy four of five congressional seats.  Democrat Governor Ted Kulongoski is stepping down due to term limits. According to a May 8-10 poll by Davis, Hibbetts, and Midghall, the Dem fight will be between John Kitzhaber and Bill Bradbury. On the Repub side, candidates Chris Dudley and Allen Alley will be lacing up the gloves.

Mark Critz vs Tim Burns

UPDATE 5/18/10 – Special-election congressional race in Pennsylvania 12: Adding to the excitement of tonight’s election results is the special-election congressional race in PA 12 to fill the late Congressman John Murtha’s seat. The latest from PPP polling shows Republican candidate Tim Burns leading Democrat Markt Critz by one point. From PoliticsPa.com:

Yet by happenstance, Murtha’s unexpected death came precisely as Republicans generally, and “tea party” activists in particular, were gaining significant traction nationally from attacks on Democratic efforts to spend federal money to fight the recession.

So here, in an ancestrally Democratic district that swung from supporting Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry in 2004 to Republican John McCain in 2008, the stage is set for a blunt clash of ideas at the ballot box on May 18, the date of a special election to fill the rest of Murtha’s term, as well as a primary for the full-term election in November.

Voters will have to decide whether the district – in decline in many areas since the early 1980s – should continue to seek economic development through federal largesse, as Murtha labored mightily to do, or whether constituents should forswear the “pork” and dealmaking that typified Murtha’s tenure and instead cast their lot with a Republican Party that advocates lower taxes and smaller government.

Join the fun here on MRC’s chat forum while we watch which candidates kiss the canvas or are saved by the bell!
Who: All – especially if you’re tired of rope-a-dope politicians
When: Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Time: 7:00 PM Eastern Time
Note: Chat will be full page at 7:00 PM ET.