WASHINGTON (AP) - Political novice Rand Paul rode support from tea party
activists to victory in Kentucky's Republican Senate primary Tuesday
night, delivering a jolt to the GOP establishment and providing fresh
evidence of widespread voter discontent in a turbulent midterm election
season. Paul had 59 percent of the vote - with returns counted from 29
percent of the precincts - to 37 percent for Secretary of State Trey
Grayson, who had been recruited to run by the state's dominant
Republican, U.S. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell.

In a Democratic primary that commanded far less national attention, Attorney
General Jack Conway led Lt. Gov. Daniel Mongiardo, 49 percent to 39
percent.

In Kentucky, Grayson had the support of McConnell as well as other establishment figures. But Paul countered with
endorsements - and the political energy that flowed along with them -
from tea party activists, former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin and Sen. Jim
DeMint of South Carolina, a conservative eager to push his party
rightward in advance of the broader fall campaign. Eager to avoid
long-term fallout from a bruising primary, GOP leaders set a unity
breakfast for Saturday.