Tea party candidate Rand Paul wins In Ky., Specter leading in Pa.

WASHINGTON (AP) - Political novice Rand Paul rode support from tea party activists to a rout in Kentucky's Republican Senate primary Tuesday night, jolting the GOP establishment and providing fresh evidence of voter discontent in a turbulent midterm election season.

"I have a message, a message from the tea party, a message that is loud and clear and does not mince words: We have come to take our government back," Paul told supporters after sealing his triumph over Secretary of State Trey Grayson.

Paul is one of five children of Republican Rep. Ron Paul of Texas, an ob/gyn who was born and raised in Pittsburgh and graduated from Gettysburg College and the Duke University School of Medicine.

On the busiest primary night of the year so far, very early returns showed Pennsylvania Sen. Arlen Specter — a Democrat-turned Republican-turned Democrat again — ahead of two-term Rep. Joe Sestak.

Specter sought his sixth term in the Senate, and his first as a Democrat.

Former Rep. Pat Toomey easily won the Republican nomination — six years after losing to Specter in a GOP primary.