UPDATE US Politics: Delaware (and Others) Vote for the Tea Party

Yesterday, EA's US Politics correspondent Lee Haddigan took a close look at the bitterly-disputed Republican primary for the US Senate in the small state of Delaware. Reviewing the battle between the "establishment" candidate Mark Castle and the Tea Party's choice, Christine O'Donnell, Haddigan concluded: "When the state returns to obscurity after the primary, at least until next month, there will be injuries from this surprisingly nasty struggle that will not be forgiven or forgotten, inside and outside the state."

Maybe, but this morning, O'Donnell is celebrating victory. And the Tea Party has another claim for success in New York, where their favourite Carl Paladino defeated Rick Lazio in the Republican primary for Governor.

In New Hampshire, the Republican primary for Governor is still close between Ovide Lamontagne, backed by local Tea Partiers, and "establishment" choice Kelly Ayotte.

In this case, however, Sarah Palin --- who is using her vocal support for state candidates to build her bid for President in 2012 --- supported Ayotte rather than the Tea Party's preference, calling her a "Granite Grizzly" and "the true conservative".