Conservative GOP senators may not be conservative enough (AP) – NIMBRUNG.NET

SALT LAKE CITY – Republican Sen. Bob Bennett — darling of the National Rifle Association and grandson of a Mormon Church president — suddenly may not be conservative enough for ultraconservative Utah.

Bennett could become the first 2010 election casualty among incumbent U.S. senators if he fails to win at least 40 percent of the 3,500 delegates at the state GOP’s convention May 8.

His struggle to win a fourth six-year term underscores two forces driving the GOP’s fortunes in 2010 as the party out of power seeks more seats in Congress: Incumbency isn’t a problem just for Democrats, and ideological purity is an issue of increasing importance for many Republican voters.

“It’s hitting just about every incumbent,” Bennett said in a recent interview. “The Republicans in this election, they’re feeling that’s really good because most of the incumbents are Democrats. But in this state, there is no Democrat to get really mad at in this fashion, so they get mad at me.”

Bennett isn’t the only Republican officeholder who may be dumped by his own party this year. Florida Republicans have all but cast out Gov. Charlie Crist in favor of tea party star Marco Rubio for another Senate seat.

Read the whole hot breaking news