U.S. Chamber of Commerce endorses Kingston in Ga. Senate race

ATLANTA (AP) - The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has endorsed Rep. Jack Kingston in Georgia's crowded Republican Senate primary.

Kingston, a Savannah Republican, is one of seven Republican candidates vying to replace retiring Republican Sen. Saxby Chambliss. The primary is May 20.

The chamber's blessing could be a big boost as Kingston and four other leading Republican candidates fight for two spots in a July 22 runoff.

The chamber has delivered on its promise to get more active in the 2014 midterm elections against tea party influences. The Republican business lobby sees those activists as damaging to the party.

Kingston has tried to avoid siding with either camp in the party's philosophical rift.

The Republican nominee will likely face heavy Democratic favorite Michelle Nunn in November.