We have our first winner of the night: (VA-05) Hurt Wins GOP Nod To Challenge Perriello

[bluestateguy]

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/06/hurt-wins-gop-nod-to-challenge-perriello.php?ref=tn

State Sen. Robert Hurt easily won the Republican nomination today in Virginia's fifth Congressional district, pitting him against freshman Rep. Tom Perriello (D-VA) in what will be one of the most competitive races this fall.

Hurt, once targeted from the right as a tax-raiser favored by the Washington establishment, cleared the field of contenders by earning 46 percent when the Associated Press called the race. The next-closest vote-getter, Jim McKelvey, had 28 percent. The five other candidates held at less than 10 percent, a result that was expected despite an intense primary battle that once had Hurt on the ropes.

McKelvey, who has been hammering Hurt in recent days with an ad feature a mock endorsement from former President Bill Clinton, is the only candidate who has not promised to endorse Hurt should he win.

It's unclear if Jeffrey Clark, running as an independent, will be any real threat to the two major party candidates. Clark is to the right of Hurt and told the Lynchburg News and Advance that he views Hurt as a "situational conservative."

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[Hawkeye-X]

1. Let's hope Clark enters the race

and give Perriello a chance to hold on to his seat.

[Frances]

2. I hope the Greens don't run someone to take vote away

from the Dem

[Democat]

3. Who were the teabaggers supporting?

It would be great to see some of the crazy teabagger candidates win today to give Democrats a better chance in November.

[bluestateguy]

4. The other guy

Hurt was Establishment all the way.