Senators hit rivals hard and fast in GOP primaries

By Charles Babington
Published February 25, 2014 5:00am ET
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Senators hit rivals hard and fast in GOP primaries
In Kentucky, the tea party-backed challenger to Sen. Mitch McConnell is trying to explain old investor letters that recently surfaced, undermining his criticisms of government bailouts of banks. (AP Photo/Stephen Lance Dennee, File) | Stephen Lance Dennee

Republican senators are attacking GOP challengers earlier and more aggressively than in past elections, including using opposition research to try to knock out upstart rivals before they become serious threats.

These senators are eager to avoid the fate of colleagues who fell victim to tea party-backed rivals they had shrugged off.

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