Republicans won two contests for governor Tuesday. But some in the party might be feeling a tad nervous about some of their own voters.

    An intra-party split between a restive, conservative grassroots base and the party establishment was the likely reason why Republicans lost a highly publicized special election in upstate New York Tuesday. A Democrat won in a traditionally Republican House district.

    Sen. John Cornyn, chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, felt compelled to tell ABC News today:  “We will not spend money in a contested primary.”

    That sounds like it means Missouri Rep. Roy Blunt, the frontrunner for the Republican nod in the state’s 2010 Senate primary, won’t be getting any funds from the GOP’s Senate campaign arm.

    But the committee doesn’t normally weigh in on primaries.

   “We never expected the NRSC to spend any dollars that were not focused on the fall election,” said Blunt Spokesman Rich Chrismer.

    Cornyn’s statement seemed to be aimed more at sending a message to the grassroots that it won’t take sides between a candidate recruited by the party and another who might develop grassroots support.

     The party clearly doesn’t want to exacerbate the base’s dissatisfaction with the GOP establishment, which Blunt, a veteran lawmaker and former member of the House leadership, symbolizes.

   He also doesn’t have the Republican primary field in next year's Senate contest to himself.

   Missouri state Sen. Chuck Purgason, a Caulfield Republican who has raised little money, also wants to replace Republican Kit Bond, who will be leaving the Senate next year after four terms.

   Money for the primary might not cause Blunt too much worry, in any case, because he’s shown a knack for attracting contributions.

    But Cornyn’s statement is recognition that Republicans are taking the complaints by the base seriously.