Obama’s choice wins in Colo. vote

That result, however, was an exception on a primary night in which outsider candidates, feeding on voter anger, generally held sway. In Connecticut, Republican voters overwhelmingly chose a wealthy wrestling executive and political novice as their candidate for US Senate.

Linda McMahon, who defeated former US Representative Rob Simmons, will now face Attorney General Richard Blumenthal, who was unopposed for the Democratic nomination. They are vying to replace longtime Senator Chris Dodd, a Democrat who is retiring after three decades in the Senate.

McMahon’s victory continues a string of strong campaigns for women in the GOP, from California to South Carolina. But in Minnesota last night, it was a Democratic female candidate who appeared headed for victory. House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher was leading in the Democratic gubernatorial primary there and could become the state’s first major-party female nominee for governor.

In the Colorado race, Bennet won a hard-fought primary against former state House Speaker Andrew Romanoff, a key victory for the White House. The tilt was considered a bellwether of the president’s ability to muster support for candidates he backs. Romanoff had the backing of former President Bill Clinton.

Bennet will face Ken Buck, a county prosecutor and favorite of the Tea Party movement who narrowly upset establishment candidate Jane Norton, a former lieutenant governor, with about 51 percent of the vote. Buck’s victory, political observers say, gives Democrats a better chance at retaining the pivotal seat because they’ll be running against a more conservative candidate.

“That really jeopardizes a seat the Republicans otherwise would have had a real shot at,’’ Robert D. Loevy, a political science professor at Colorado College, said last night. “The race appears to me to be a contest between a more middle-of-the-road Democrat and more right wing Republican, and that tends to favor the Democrats in Colorado.’’

WASHINGTON — In one of a handful of intensely watched primaries around the country, US Senator Michael Bennet last night fended off a feisty Democratic primary challenger in Colorado, bucking a wave of anti-incumbent fervor and demonstrating that President Obama still carries electoral clout.The primaries are the latest chapter in an intense fight for control of Congress and state capitols across the country. In both Connecticut and Colorado, Republicans see an opportunity to grab a Senate seat held by a Democrat. With 10 seats needed to take the majority, however, Republicans would have to run the table and win nearly every competitive race.

McMahon’s victory is yet another by political newcomers defying political conventional wisdom by upsetting incumbents and party-backed candidates. This year, being seen as part of the Washington establishment has been more of a hindrance than help for many candidates.

“These are people the establishment would have liked to see go away,’’ said David Cohen, political science professor at the University of Akron. “And instead, because they either have name identification or deep pockets, they’re able to knock off the hand-picked party favorite.’’