Bachus Easily Wins GOP Primary

WASHINGTON — House Financial Services Committee Chairman Spencer Bachus survived a challenge Tuesday from three Republicans in Alabama's Sixth Congressional District, clearing a path to re-election.

Bachus won 58% of the vote in the Republican primary, easily surpassing the 50% threshold needed to avoid an April run-off. State Sen. Scott Beason finished second with 27%.

Bachus had been considered vulnerable largely as a result of an ethics probe looking at whether he improperly used information from 2008 meetings with Federal Reserve Board President Ben Bernanke and Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson for personal gain. Bachus has denied wrongdoing.

A super PAC that is seeking to defeat incumbents of both parties poured more than $200,000 into the effort to beat Bachus, but the veteran lawmaker raised more than $1.7 million for his re-election. Beason, by contrast, raised just over $50,000.

Bachus will face Democrat Penny Bailey in the November general election. He is expected to breeze to victory in the strongly Republican district.