ABC News Projects Rand Paul Will Win Ky. Senate Race, in First Tea Party, Sarah Palin Victory

ABC News reports:

Republican candidate Rand Paul will win the Kentucky Senate race to score the first major victory of the night for the Tea Party movement, according to ABC News exit-poll projections.

Paul beat Democrat Jack Conway after a bitter personal campaign that became one of the nastiest in the country.

The libertarian-leaning ophthamologist won on the back of strong anti-President Obama sentiment in the state. By a 23-point margin, voters there said they were casting their ballots in opposition to Obama, with 62 percent disapproving of Obama's job performance overall, according to ABC News exit polls.