Newser) – Moderate Mark Kirk has won Illinois’ Republican Senate primary, blowing away two conservative opponents backed by tea-party contingents. The congressman has 56% of the vote with more than 82% of precincts reporting—giving him a 37% lead over Patrick Hughes. Analysts predicted that a clear Kirk victory would take much of the steam out of the tea-party movement. On the Democratic side, the Chicago Tribune reports, state treasurer Alexi Giannoulias looks close to clinching the nomination, setting up a fight with Kirk for the Senate seat vacated by President Obama.