More R's Getting In

Enthusiastic Republicans crowd primary races (Tribune)
As the Republican Party's chances of success in the fall elections increase, so too has the number of Republican candidates jumping into primaries across the country. Party officials claim to welcome the enthusiasm, but in many places it's the sort of welcome reserved for an uninvited guest. Or eight uninvited guests, as is the case in Arkansas, where the lineup of candidates wanting to challenge Democratic Sen. Blanche Lincoln has swelled to nine. Retiring Murfreesboro Rep. Bart Gordon's seat in Ten-nessee has four Republicans vying for the nomination and one erstwhile Republican running as an independent. Two competitive districts in Virginia have drawn 11 hopefuls between them. Races in Nevada, New Hampshire and California also are crowding fast. In cases such as Arkansas', a surplus of candidates is evidence of an eagerness to take on a politically weak Democrat. Lincoln's approval ratings are among the lowest in the Senate. In other cases, it's a result of internal strife between the party's establishment and the often more conservative newcomers.