Primary Roundup: McCain, Meek, Quayle Claim Victories

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Arizona, Florida, Vermont and Alaska held primary elections on Tuesday, and the results were a mix of surprises, sure bets and viral video sensations.

It was have viral ad, will travel in Arizona last night. John McCain breezed to victory in the Republican primary for Senate, beating former Congressman J.D. Hayworth. Viral campaign ad? Check. Ben Quayle, son of former veep Dan Quayle, won the GOP primary for Congress. Viral video? Oh yeah. (See the rest of our Top Viral Campaign Ads of 2010.)

The biggest surprise was in Florida, as Attorney General Bill McCollum lost to businessman Rick Scott for the GOP spot in the governor’s race. Other state races were more predictable, as the establishment’s Kendrick Meek leveraged labor-union support to win the Democratic nomination for Senate, beating out billionaire Jeff Greene. He will face Republican Marco Rubio and Independent Charlie Crist, the state’s current governor.

Alaska is too close to call, but incumbent Senator Lisa Murkowski may fall to Palin-endorsed attorney Joe Miller. Shows the true power of a Papa Grizzly.

Things aren’t quite settled in Vermont yet. The Democratic election for governor is still too close to call; only about one hundred votes separate State Senators Peter Shumlin and Doug Racine. A recount is to come.