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Republican forces eager to defeat Democratic incumbent Sen. Kay Hagan have rallied around state House Speaker Thom Tillis. The tea party faces uphill fight in Ohio, too.

Primary season kicks off in earnest Tuesday, with contests in three states: North Carolina, Ohio, and Indiana.

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At center stage is the Republican primary for US Senate in North Carolina, where the GOP establishment, tea party, and Christian conservatives are duking it out for the chance to take on freshman Sen. Kay Hagan (D). Senator Hagan is one of the most vulnerable Democrats this cycle in a state that voted for Barack Obama in 2008 and has been trending conservative ever since.

Hagans defeat is crucial to Republicans hopes of taking over the Senate in November. But Hagan and national Democrats are on the case, with strong fundraising.

The Republican establishment has rallied around state House Speaker Thom Tillis, who faces seven primary competitors. If Speaker Tillis can take at least 40 percent of the primary vote Tuesday, he will avoid a runoff and can immediately get to work campaigning against Hagan. If not, he will face a runoff on July 15, likely against tea-party-backed obstetrician Greg Brannon.

But the Republican powers-that-be want nothing to do with a runoff, which drags out their intraparty battle and raises Democrats hopes that an insurgent could win the primary the kind of candidate who makes off-the-wall statements and has cost the GOP Senate seats in the past two elections. The US Chamber of Commerce and American Crossroads, the Karl Rove-affiliated "super political action committee," are backing Tillis, as is Gov. Pat McCrory (R), 2012 GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney, and potential 2016 contender Jeb Bush.

Dr. Brannon is backed by tea party Sens. Rand Paul (R) of Kentucky and Mike Lee (R) of Utah, as well as national tea party groups FreedomWorks and Tea Party Patriots. A third candidate, the Rev. Mark Harris, pastor of Charlottes First Baptist Church, is backed by former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee.

Tillis had struggled to break away from the pack, but in late April, Public Policy Polling showed him surging to 46 percent. Brannon polled second at 20 percent, and Mr. Harris was third at 11 percent.

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North Carolina Senate primary: GOP establishment fights back against tea party (+video)