Kentucky Primary Shows Strength Of Tea Party

Reading the Tea Leaves in Kentucky
Mitch McConnell's handpicked candidate is in primary trouble, illustrating the Tea Party's growing strength in the GOP.

Next Tuesday's Democratic Senate primary in Pennsylvania is grabbing most of the advance attention, if for no other reason than the state's proximity to the New York–D.C. media corridor. The race also features the anguished tale of 80-year-old Sen. Arlen Specter's late-game conversion from Republican to Democrat. He may suffer a humiliating loss to Rep. Joe Sestak, but the outcome itself is not a game changer. Either Democrat would face a tough race in the fall.

The far more significant Senate primary race is elsewhere: in Kentucky, where Tea Party fave Dr. Rand Paul is poised to demolish the establishment Republican candidate, Trey Grayson. If you're looking for midterm tea leaves to read—pardon the pun—they're in the deepening red down in the Bluegrass State.

GOP Senate Leader Mitch McConnell, NEWSWEEK has learned, is not planning to be in his hometown of Louisville on Tuesday night. The stated reason is the press of Senate business, but he also may not want to be in the vicinity of what most Kentucky handicappers are now assuming will be a loss by his handpicked candidate, Secretary of State Grayson. Paul, son of Rep. Ron Paul, has been endorsed by evangelical Christian organizations such as Focus on the Family, as well as by Tea Party types in and out of the GOP nationally.

GO HERE to read more.