Divisions bedevil Republicans ahead of elections

A Senate vote to increase the government's borrowing authority was a fresh reminder that while Republicans see a chance of grabbing the majority in the upper chamber, fissures within the party often trip them up, AP reported. Republican leaders, facing a 55-45 disadvantage in the Senate, had decided against another round of fiscal brinkmanship that could harm their standing ahead of November's midterm congressional elections. They let it be known that they were ready to let Democrats deliver the votes on legislation that would allow the government to borrow money to pay its bills on time. The once routine, obscure matter had exploded into the political arena in recent years as Republicans used it as leverage to extract spending concessions from President Barack Obama. This time, however, the Republican-run House of Representatives passed a debt limit increase Tuesday with no conditions attached. House Speaker John Boehner handed Obama a victory for now, with an eye toward avoiding another distracting budget battle and keeping the party focused on winning control of the Senate in November.