The prospect of a divisive Democratic primary has many party leaders uneasy.

With the divisive primaries over, there are signs that things are improving for Republicans.

He was selected as the candidate to run for mayor against city council president John Street who withstood a negative advertising barrage to win a divisive Democratic primary.

"We cannot afford divisive primaries that force Democratic nominees to limp to Election Day."

The state leaders are trying to avoid divisive and expensive primaries by uniting behind candidates for governor, senator and attorney general.

It just proves that Democrats don't have a monopoly on divisive primaries.

That might allow a consensus candidate to avoid a costly and potentially divisive Republican primary.

Some top party officials have quietly been supporting Mr. Spitzer's candidacy, hoping to head off a divisive Democratic primary like the one last year.

His challenger was battered in a hard-fought, divisive Democratic primary, whereas Mr. Santorum had no primary opposition.

Republicans, on the other hand, have avoided divisive primaries and, to boot, have mostly nominated centrists, a good ideological fit in Illinois.