American Tea Party backed candidates stun Republicans in primaries

Washington, Sept 15 (ANI): Two unknown Republican Senate primary candidates, Christine O'Donnell and Ovide Lamontagne, backed by the Tea Party have rocked their entrenched party opponents by winning nominations on Tuesday, posing a major disappointment to the political establishment on the last big day of the primaries.

Christine O'Donnell, a perennial candidate with no government experience, defeated veteran politician Mike Castle, a nine-term congressman and former governor, for the Republican Senate nomination in Delaware.

According to Fox News, O'Donnell's win not only stands as the latest sign of the Tea Party's strength but also the latest test of whether that movement helps or hinders the Republican Party, with an open seat and perhaps a GOP Senate majority at stake.

Tea Party backed candidate Ovide Lamontagne also took the early lead in the GOP primary contest for Senate in New Hampshire.

Democratic National Committee (DNC) Chairman, Tim Kaine, said in a statement that Republican Party has shown just how far right it has moved.

"While Americans in Delaware and across the country are eager for both parties to work together toward solutions that move America forward, Delaware's Tea Party Republicans have nominated a self-aggrandizing and divisive candidate who seeks to tear down the progress we've made to recover from failed Republican economic policies that took us to the brink of economic collapse," he added. (ANI)