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Republicans are competing Tuesday for prize nominations in several races considered vital to the party's hopes of retaking the Senate in November, as voters cast their ballots in primaries across six states.

Though primary voters are heading to the polls for a host of Republican and Democratic contests -- including Senate, House and gubernatorial races -- the most closely watched appears to be Georgia, where a whopping seven candidates are running for the GOP Senate nod.

The winner of that race is expected to take on Democratic front-runner Michelle Nunn in the fall.She is the daughter of Sam Nunn, a Democrat who represented Georgia in the Senate from 1972-1997.

Meanwhile, Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell beat Tea Party-aligned Matt Bevin in his Kentucky primary contest. But the real competition for him is likely to come in November, when he will face Kentucky Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes.

McConnell is running not only to defend his seat, but possibly to grab the title of majority leader next year.

The Georgia and Kentucky Senate races represent Democrats' best, and perhaps only, shots at picking up Republican-held Senate seats. It is considered critical that Republicans hold these seats, in order to have a chance at picking up the six seats needed to gain the majority.

Hypothetical match-ups already show McConnell and Grimes locked in a tight competition in November.

In Georgia, Republicans are looking to pick a strong nominee who can defend the seat being left by retiring Republican Sen. Saxby Chambliss.

Polls suggest former Secretary of State Karen Handel, Rep. Jack Kingston and businessman David Perdue are battling for the top two posts. Reps. Paul Broun and Phil Gingrey are also running.

A July 22 runoff of the top two candidates is likely, given the difficulty any candidate would face in garnering the 50 percent necessary to avoid one.

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Republicans pick candidates to defend turf in key Senate battlegrounds- Republican hopes rise on Georgia race- Can in ...