Tea Party Upsets Could Swing U.S. Senate Control

By Samantha Hayes, CNN|News9.com Contributor

WASHINGTON -- While the Tea Party movement didn't affect the primary elections in Oklahoma, it's creating quite a controversy across the country.

Tea Party members are winning over longtime GOP members and those upsets could wind up affecting the state after all.

Delaware Republicans thought they had a slam dunk winner with Mike Castle, the nine-term congressman, a moderate who could beat the democratic nominee.

Republicans did not support Christine O'Donnell and the Delaware contest turned into a nasty fight inside the Republican Party.

O'Donnell received backing from the conservative tea party movement and became the seventh outsider to oust an incumbent.

The fight between the two Republican candidates was viscous, marked by personal attacks including the state GOP chair in Delaware saying O'Donnell couldn't be elected dog catcher. However, O'Donnell is now the nominee, and after Tuesday night's victory she said she hopes the party can come together.

"The so-called leaders have been proven wrong. They got behind a candidate who didn't even support our party principles. Supported the liberals nearly 70 percent of the time some years, and they chose to get behind him because they were taking the easy way out," O'Donnell said.

The end of the primary has not brought an end to the bitterness of the campaign. Congressman Mike Castle said there is zero chance he'll endorse O'Donnell because of personal attacks made on him and his family during the primary campaign. He also said he won't endorse the Democratic nominee, Chris Coons, either.

Coons, who was considered a long shot before O'Donnell won the Republican primary, received about $50,000 in donations, and his campaign also expects help from the White House. Vice President Joe Biden, who vacated the seat when he ran for the vice presidency, called Coons last night and will probably campaign for him.

As for the Republican Party, the RNC Chair Michael Steele said he has instructed his staff to devote resources and money to help O'Donnell in Delaware, including setting up fundraisers.