United States Senate

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Rep. W. Todd Akin, Missouri Republican, is under heavy pressure from his own political party to quit the race for the U.S. Senate after insensitive remarks he made regarding rape and abortion. (Associated Press)

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George Allen, the Republican candidate for U.S. Senate from Virginia, has declined repeatedly to indicate whether he firmly supports the Medicare reform proposal being championed by his party’s vice-presidential nominee-in-waiting. (Barbara L. Salisbury/The Washington Times)

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Linda McMahon has a comfortable lead in the race for a U.S. Senate seat in Connecticut over former Rep. Christopher Shays. (Associated Press)

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Democrat Rep. Mazie Hirono, right, hugs U.S. Senator Daniel Inouye after Hirono won the Democratic primary nomination for a Hawaii seat in the U.S. Senate, Saturday, Aug. 11, 2012 in Honolulu. (AP Photo/Marco Garcia)

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** FILE ** In this Dec. 1, 2011, photo, former Wisconsin Gov. Tommy Thompson greets supporters after formally launching his bid for U.S. Senate, at a manufacturing facility in Waukesha, Wis. (AP Photo/Dinesh Ramde, File)

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Ted Cruz thanks his wife, Heidi, in front of a cheering crowd after he defeated Republican rival, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, in a runoff election Tuesday for the GOP nomination for the U.S. Senate seat vacated by the retiring Kay Bailey Hutchison. (Houston Chronicle/Johnny Hanson via Associated Press)

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Former Texas Solicitor General Ted Cruz, once considered a long-shot underdog for the GOP nomination for U.S. Senate, defeated Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst in the party’s Tuesday primary runoff, and the reason appears to be his strong support from state tea-party conservatives. It’s a sign of the movement’s growing national clout. (Associated Press)