Insiders vs. outsiders in Fla., Ariz., Alaska

August 25, 2010 at 12:00a.m.

Associated Press

WASHINGTON

Rep. Kendrick Meek cinched Florida’s Senate Democratic nomination by defeating political upstart Jeff Greene on Tuesday, and veteran politician Bill McCollum battled novice Rick Scott in the state’s GOP gubernatorial contest as voters weighed the merits of establishment candidates vs. wealthy outsiders.

Elsewhere, Sens. John McCain and Lisa Murkow-ski counted on voters to reward political experience as they faced spirited Republican primary challenges in Arizona and Alaska 10 weeks before the general election.

Nominating contests in five states — Vermont also was voting, and Oklahoma held GOP runoffs — highlighted dominant themes of this unpredictable election year, including anti-establishment anger and tea-party challenges from the right.

As the first polls of the night closed, Meek toppled Greene, a big-spending real-estate tycoon whose links to boxer Mike Tyson and former Hollywood madam Heidi Fleiss drew headlines, in the Democratic Senate nomination fight. The four-term congressman will compete against Republican Marco Rubio, who easily secured the GOP nod, and Gov. Charlie Crist, a former Republican who is running as an independent, in November.

Both McCain of Arizona and Murkowski of Alaska worked to overcome challenges from candidates backed by the fledgling coalition that questioned the lawmakers’ conservative credentials. Former Rep. J.D. Hayworth ran in Arizona, Sarah Palin- endorsed Joe Miller, an attorney, in Alaska.

In Vermont, Democratic Sen. Patrick Leahy, first elected in 1974, coasted to renomination for what is likely to be a new term in November.