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A Tea Party-backed Senate candidate was locked Tuesday in a heated GOP primary battle in Nebraska, where his chief rival is sharply challenging his conservative credentials and a dark horse candidate aims for a come-from-behind surprise.

Ben Sasse, the president of Midland University, has steadily gained the backing of some of the most influential conservative groups and figures as he vies for the seat left by retiring Republican Sen. Mike Johanns.

Sporadic polling has shown Sasse in the lead, giving his Tea Party backers hope as the movement struggles to gain traction this year in the primaries. But primary rival, former state treasurer Shane Osborn, is looking to blunt that momentum in Tuesday's race. Osborn has the backing of allies of Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and has run an aggressive campaign.

Further scrambling the race, another candidate -- Pinnacle Bank President Sid Dinsdale -- has sought to capitalize on the Sasse-Osborn fight and appears to be climbing in the polls, making for an unpredictable election night.

In recent weeks, big names have gravitated to Sasse's side, including Sarah Palin and Texas Republican Sen. Ted Cruz. Sasse also has the backing of the Club for Growth, the Tea Party Patriots, the Senate Conservatives Fund and FreedomWorks.

Sasse has focused on his conservative credentials, opposition to abortion, support for gun rights and goal of repealing and replacing the health care law.

In one 30-second ad, Sasse's two young daughters, Alex and Corrie, talk about how much their dad opposes the Affordable Care Act. "He wants to destroy it," says one daughter. "He despises it," says the other.

However, Sasse advised former Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt's firm as the group reached out to businesses and organizations in 2010 to explain and implement the new law. Osborn recently began running a 30-second TV ad linking Sasse to writings and speeches from several years earlier commenting on elements that would become part of the law firmly opposed by most Republicans.

Outside groups and the candidates have spent millions on the race in which the GOP winner is widely expected to prevail in November. The National Republican Senatorial Committee, the party's campaign operation, has remained neutral.

Trial lawyer Dave Domina faces Larry Marvin in the Democratic primary.

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Tea Party candidate in heated primary for Neb. Senate- FOX NEWS FIRST: GOP civil war or quality control?