Politico reports that “several” GOP senators are wary of Sharron Angle:

Several Senate Republicans told POLITICO that they don’t favor privatizing Social Security, as Angle has supported. Small government conservatives said it doesn’t make sense to eliminate the Energy and Education departments – as she’s called for in the past. And some recoiled at the thought of pulling the United States out of the United Nations, a position Angle has touted.
“They were suggested about 18 years ago, and many times subsequently,” said Sen. Richard Lugar (R-Ind.) who disagreed with all of those views. “Some candidates from time to time, perhaps attempting to show a sense of anger, outrage or whatever, express what I would characterize as very extreme views that do not have much basis in either practicality or what is going to occur in the evolution of our country.”

Reacting to that story, Sen. James Inhofe (R., Okla.) tells National Review Online that the GOP caucus is, without question, “unified behind her.” Angle, he predicts, “is going to surprise a lot of people, even though others are trying to demonize her. I’m not aware of any divisions [among Senate Republicans about Angle].” Inhofe says he met with Angle on Capitol Hill earlier this afternoon.

Lugar’s comment, Inhofe adds, should not be taken as the party consensus. “Senator Lugar is a good friend of mine, but he’s not a real conservative leader.”