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• These Republican successes shouldn't obscure the scrappy and seasoned nature of Democratic senators battling to hold their seats, even in states where Obama and his health care law are unpopular. Sens. Mark Pryor of Arkansas, Mary Landrieu of Louisiana, Mark Begich of Alaska, Kay Hagan of North Carolina and Mark Warner of Virginia have shown they can win in toss-up or Republican-leaning states.
• These senators are campaigning hard, and it's possible all of them will survive and keep their party in control of the Senate. But Republicans thus far are doing almost everything they can to push these contests to the limit. And that gives them multiple paths to the six net seats they need for the majority.
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Rounds and Daugaard easily win in GOP primary
DIRK LAMMERS, Associated Press
REGINA GARCIA CANO, Associated Press
• SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) -- South Dakota's current and past governor scored convincing Republican primary election wins Tuesday that could propel them to the lead in gubernatorial and U.S. Senate races in November and tighten the GOP grip on the state's top political offices.
• Rounds avoided a runoff with any of four other candidates for the GOP U.S. Senate nomination to replace retiring Democrat Tim Johnson. Republicans nationally see the race as one of their strongest chances to pick up a Democratic seat in 2014, and if a Republican wins in November it would be the first time in 28 years both South Dakota U.S. Senate seats are held by the GOP.
• "We are going to be focusing on November; we want to take back the (U.S.) Senate," Rounds said, adding that Republicans will work to "retire" current U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.
• Gov. Dennis Daugaard, who was first elected governor in 2010 after serving eight years as Rounds' lieutenant governor, easily won a chance to earn a second full term in office, topping lesser-known challenger former state Rep. Lora Hubbel, of Sioux Falls.
• "It's a thrill to be involved in government in a state that is as great as South Dakota is," Daugaard said after declaring victory.
• He will face state Rep. Susan Wismer, of Britton, who won the Democratic primary over Joe Lowe, the former head of the state wildfire agency. Wismer, an accountant, has criticized Daugaard for cutting spending on education and health care.
• "I look forward to taking the current governor to task for the choices he's made," she said after declaring victory.
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