Former Gov. Sarah Palin (R-Alaska) is headed to Idaho on Friday to campaign for a Republican congressional candidate trying to recover from a series of political stumbles.

Palin will stump for Vaughn Ward, who faces a competitive GOP primary next week in his bid to challenge first-term Rep. Walt Minnick (D) in Idaho’s first district. Ward’s campaign confirmed Palin’s visit to the Idaho Spokesman-Review.

A heavy favorite who has been promoted by the National Republican Congressional Committee, Ward shook up his campaign staff late last week after a spate of negative press, including a reprimand from the Marines for wearing his military uniform during a campaign ad, along with a report that the “Issues” section of his campaign website contained passages lifted verbatim from other Republicans. His opponent has also criticized him for not voting in the 2008 presidential election despite working as the Nevada state director for Sen. John McCain’s (R-Ariz.) campaign.

Ward’s opponent in the May 25 primary is state Rep. Raul Labrador. The district is one of the most Republican in the nation to be held by a Democrat, but the incumbent Minnick has the distinction of being the only Democrat endorsed by the national Tea Party.

Tuesday's election results aren't simply a reflection of voters in an anti-incumbent mood, according to GOP pollster Glen Bolger. It's also that voters are punishing members who have strayed from the party line. Bolger calls this a "hyper polarization" of the electorate. Here's his take:

_{[W]ith the exception of [Rep. Alan] Mollohan, the nomination defeats (or major troubles at this point for Lincoln), are politicians who were punished for their votes and efforts that strayed from the party line. My polling for Republican incumbents who face challengers show that most are in strong shape to win renomination because they are generally perceived as fighting the Obama-Pelosi efforts to increase the size and scope of government, and to spend money in a way that makes previous administrations seem Scrooge-like.}

_{Senator Specter’s loss was actually a double defeat. Because he voted for the stimulus package, he baited Pat Toomey into switching from the Governor’s race to the Senate race. Specter’s poll numbers in a GOP primary were far too weak to win a primary – he choose to switch parties rather than retire. However, his previous support for George W. Bush and other Republicans (and GOP policies) meant Democratic voters couldn’t trust him. Specter’s once legendary ability to both annoy and please conservatives, moderates, and liberals caught up to him in this time of hyper polarization.}

_{Lincoln is facing the same traumas from the left – she is perceived by many unions and liberals as not supportive enough of their agenda, and thus not worthy of renomination.}

_{An incumbent all but in name, Charlie Crist should be in that same body count of politicians who “lost” their party’s nomination for not being orthodox enough. His support for the stimulus package made him persona non grata among a GOP primary electorate looking for someone to fight against the framework of bigger government spending more money.}

_{Not every incumbent is endangered for renomination. However, those who face anger from the grassroots, coupled with a challenger candidate with the resources to get their message out, have challenges.}

The National Republican Congressional Committee has a bad night, the Vietnam War could restart in Connecticut and progressives are out for revenge.

12 is the loneliest number

Losing Pennsylvania's 12th district special election after fielding a strong candidate should cause the NRCC to reexamine whether using Speaker Nancy Pelosi (Calif.) as a boogeyman is effective. Meanwhile, the committee had some mixed results among its recruited candidates Tuesday.

Some of its highly-touted "Young Guns" failed to make it through their primaries. Kentucky businessman Jeffrey Reetz, who was considered "on the radar" by the committee, lost the state's 3rd district primary to the Tea Party-backed Todd Lally.

There were some successes for the NRCC on Tuesday. Sports consultant Rob Cornilles won the 1st district primary in Oregon, where he'll face Rep. David Wu (D) in November. And former U.S. Attorney Tim Griffin easily won the GOP nod in the Arkansas's 2nd congressional district.

Wants to hear more about ‘Nam

Former Rep. Rob Simmons (R) said Tuesday he was "unsatisfied" with Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal's explanation for how he mischaracterized his record of service during the Vietnam War. On Wednesday, he subsequently rolled out the endorsement of "legendary Hanoi Hilton POW” Orson Swindle, a retired Marine lieutenant colonel who campaigned with Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) in 2008. Will Vietnam linger as an issue through the general election?

An outpost of progress

The Progressive Change Campaign Committee sent an e-mail to supporters Tuesday saying, "Tonight, we proved that our support can truly help good candidates win." The group, along with MoveOn.org, funneled some $2 million into Lt. Gov. Bill Halter's (D) challenge to Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D). The confidence progressives get from this race will surely cause some consternation in the Democratic Party, which was hamstrung by outside, supposedly-allied groups in the 2004 cycle.

Rep. John Boozman (R-Ark.) won the Arkansas GOP Senate nomination Tuesday, beating out a field of eight candidates.

Boozman had 53 percent of the vote with 2,079 of 2,516 precincts reporting, according to unofficial results. The Associated Press declared him the winner.

National Republican Senatorial Committee Chairman John Cornyn (Texas) congratulated him on the win.

"John Boozman earned the trust and respect of Arkansans through his consistent and effective representation in Congress, where he has fought hard for policies that lower taxes, control spending, create good-paying jobs, and keep America safe," Cornyn said in a statement. "As a local business owner and community optometrist, John Boozman understands the destructive impact of the Democrats’ economic and healthcare policies for the families, seniors, farmers, and job creators in his state who are struggling to make ends meet."

Lt. Gov. Bill Halter (D) forced Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D) into a runoff after neither received a majority of votes.

Democrats and Republicans finalized their slate of candidates Tuesday for a competitive set of House races this fall in Arkansas.

Primary voters nominated candidates in the state's three open races, while Republicans picked their candidate to challenge Blue Dog Rep. Mike Ross (D) in the state's 4th congressional district.

Republican voters overwhelmingly settled on former GOP aide Rick Crawford in the state's 1st congressional district, while Democrat Tim Wooldridge, who serves as executive director of the Arkansas Association of Public Universities, appeared ahead in the six-way Democratic primary. Wooldridge had 34 percent locked up Tuesaday night with just over 30 percent of precincts reporting.

Former U.S. Attorney Tim Griffin also easily won the Republican nod in the state's 2nd congressional district, while state Sen. Majority Leader Joyce Elliott led the Democratic pack in the district. Elliott won the support of almost 36 percent of the primary field on Tuesday night, with almost 62 percent of precincts reporting.

Democrat Tim Whitaker, a former Fayetteville assistant city attorney, won the Democratic nomination unopposed in the 3rd district. Mayor Steve Womack of Rogers, Ark., led the GOP pack early with almost 35 percent of the primary and almost nine percent of precincts reporting.

Beth Anne Rankin, an aide to former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee (R), also seemed well-positioned to win the Republican nomination to challenge Ross this fall. With 58 percent of precincts reporting, she had locked up 55 percent of the Republican vote.

Democrats will be forced to defend three seats in the Republican-leaning state, while the GOP will have to defend the seat of Rep. John Boozman in the third district. Boozman is running for the Senate this fall.

Rep. Marion Berry (D) is retiring in the first district, and Rep. Vic Snyder (D) is retiring in the second.

Mark Critz (D), a former aide to Rep. John Murtha (D-Pa.), won the race to replace his late boss.

Sen. Arlen Specter lost the Democratic nomination to Rep. Joe Sestak (D-Pa.) after switching parties last year.

Kentucky Attorney General Jack Conway (D) won by a thin margin and will face Rand Paul (R) in November.