Primaries 2010: Endorsement Battles

WASHINGTON, Aug. 9, 2010 -- Tuesday elections across the country include a political-endorsement battle royale, with the current president on one side of the race in Colorado and former President Bill Clinton on the other.

And a bevy of Republicans thought to be eying their own presidential campaigns have settled on either side of the Georgia gubernatorial race.

2010 Election Maps: Follow the Senate, House and Governors' Races

Here's a whip around the country and a primer on what to watch for Tuesday night. Any story on endorsements should include a disclaimer that there is little evidence that they can sway a race.

In these cases, however, the divides are striking enough to mention.

Clinton vs. Obama

Nobody thought much of it back in late June when Clinton endorsed underdog Andrew Romanoff in Colorado. Michael Bennet, despite his never having run for office before, was appointed to the Senate seat there and he's the White House horse in the race.

More on the 2010 Races in Colorado

Bennet had the lead and Clinton would not be stumping in person Romanoff. But Romanoff is a fighter. He has sold himself as a Washington outsider and has pledged not to take money from political action committees.

He has gone negative on Bennet, tying him to Wall Street in ads and exploiting a New York Times expose about exotic and controversial loans taken out by the Denver Public School system when Bennet was superintendent.

There are indications that Bennet's lead is all but gone, according to public polls that showed the race tightening and private admissions from Democrats that what once appeared to be a sure win for Bennet has become too close to predict.

Clinton helped incumbent Blanche Lincoln in Arkansas. Will he help insurgent Romanoff topple the incumbent in Colorado? Read more about that here.

While he won't appear in person in Colorado, the former president recorded an automated message that will go out to some Colorado voters. Listen to it here. Obama praised Bennet in a tele-town hall Aug. 3.

Both Parties Divided

Meanwhile, Clinton, ever popular with Democrats as a former president, will be out and about on the campaign trail. He will stump Tuesday in Pennsylvania for Rep. Joe Sestak, who defeated Sen. Arlen Specter, a former Republican, for the Democratic nomination.

There was mild controversy when it became clear earlier this year that the White House, through Clinton, had sought to dissuade Sestak from seeking the seat against Specter, its preferred candidate.

2010 Election Maps: Follow the Senate, House and Governors' Races

Democrats aren't the only ones with split endorsements on display Tuesday.

Palin and Romney vs. NRA, Gingrich and Huckabee

There's an all-out endorsement war in Georgia, where the top two candidates for the Republican slot in the gubernatorial race go head to head in a runoff Tuesday. Karen Handel, the former secretary of state, is an official Mama Grizzly, with Sarah Palin in her corner. Palin stumped for Handel today. Handel also has the nod of Mitt Romney.

More on the 2010 Races in Georgia

But the race is tied. And Nathan Deal, the former Republican congressman, has some high-profile endorsements of his own. How does the NRA sound as a good foil to Palin?

Deal also has former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and Mike Huckabee, who will campaign with him Sunday. Keep track of Sarah Palin's Election Scorecard here.

From Wrestling Ring to Political Ring

Rep. Rob Simmons was supposed to be out of the Republican primary for senator in Connecticut. He shuttered his operation and went dormant more than a month ago.

More on the 2010 Races in Connecticut

But then, late in July, like Hulk Hogan getting up off the mat and doing that, "Can you hear me now" thing, Simmons re-emerged. He brought his campaign back to life (sort of) in the final stretch of the primary, hoping to knock off his professional wrestling entrepreneur rival. It's unlikely Simmons will prevail but interesting nonetheless.

The Wrong Business?

Linda McMahon, the Republican frontrunner, is a successful businesswoman and has been running on her business acumen. But she has taken a beating in Connecticut for what that business is: professional wrestling.

Recent weeks have seen women's groups condemn some odd clips of McMahon and her husband doing their day job at WWE in recent years; talking smack, getting smacked by her daughter. Connecticut Democrats have compiled the most interesting videos here.

2010 Election Maps: Follow the Senate, House and Governors' Races

Back in Colorado, on the Republican side of the Senate race is Ken Buck, the Tea Party-favored Republican who stands a good chance of winning the nomination from Jan Norton, the former lieutenant governor.

Buck has the nod of strict conservative Sen. Jim DeMint and Norton has gotten praise but no endorsement from Palin. Norton has campaigned with Sen. John McCain, the 2008 Republican nominee.

Buck and Norton have sparred. She questioned his masculinity. He said some unfortunate things about his choice of footwear. Buck is a gaffe-prone, sound-byte machine. He will present a test for the Tea Party. Read more on the year of the Republican woman here.

In the Colorado governor's race, the real tests will come in November. Former Republican Rep. Tom Tancredo, a firebrand in the anti-illegal immigration movement, has left his party to join the small-time American Constitution Party.

Should he stay in the race, his presence could give aid to Democrats, especially with the deeply flawed Republican candidate Scott McInnis, who has been accused of plagiarism.