Politico: Blanche Lincoln Gets a Primary Challenge

[flpoljunkie]

Halter declares against Lincoln
By: Alex Isenstadt

March 1, 2010


Arkansas Lt. Gov. Bill Halter is moving ahead with a primary challenge to Sen. Blanche Lincoln, he announced Monday.

"Washington is broken," Halter said in a video on his campaign website. "Bailing out Wall Street with no strings attached, while leaving middle-class Arkansas taxpayers with the bill; protecting insurance company profits instead of protecting patients and lowering health costs; gridlock, bickering and partisan games while unemployment is at a 25-year high. Enough's enough."

Halter's decision further complicates Lincoln's already difficult path to a third term. Polls have shown Lincoln trailing a slew of Republican opponents, including Rep. John Boozman and state Sen. Gilbert Baker, as well as more obscure candidates.

The senator's last fundraising report of 2009 showed her with more than $5 million at her disposal, as she braced for a competitive reelection fight. Some of that money is now likely to get burned away in an effort to survive a contested primary.

Halter's entry into the race marks a victory for liberal activists, who have called on him for months to challenge Lincoln over concerns about her refusal to support the Employee Free Choice Act and a government-run health insurance plan.

The lieutenant governor, a former Rhodes Scholar and former Clinton administration official first elected to state office in 2006, met with labor officials and progressive leaders in Washington in the months preceding his decision to enter the race. He also appeared on MSNBC's "Countdown" in the midst of the health care debate to promote a temporary medical clinic being organized in Little Rock to provide free care.

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0310/33687.html

more...

[babylonsister]

1. Excellent-she's worthless. Go, Halter! nt

[flpoljunkie]

2. Here's a link to his website where you can sign up to join his campaign.

http://billhalter.com/

[Jennicut]

4. Great. Thanks for the info. So happy an actual liberal is challenging her.

She did this to herself really.

[dkf]

3. Good.

Serves her right for being so difficult.

[flpoljunkie]

5. Plumline's Greg Sargent writes about 'What to watch today'

What to watch today: Whether labor lines up behind Halter; how quickly the Dem Beltway establishment rallies behind Lincoln and starts urinating on the “left” for making trouble.

http://theplumline.whorunsgov.com/terrorism/the-morning-plum-79/

[Joanne98]

6. Good riddance!

[Craftsman]

7. Love it ot hate it in AR this will help teh rethugs win the seat

AR is not going to go hard left and if Lincoln wins the primary it will weaken her.

[flpoljunkie]

8. Halter, Lt. Governor, will apparently run a populist campaign against Washington. It might work.

I wanted you to know the news first: I'm running for the United States Senate.

You can find out more by watching the announcement video I just released, but the reason is pretty simple.

Washington is no longer on the side of Arkansas families. And it's up to us to fix it.

Change is still possible. We can get America back to work, creating jobs. We can fix our broken health care system. And we can start helping Main Street instead of Wall Street.

Now I need your help. Watch the video and join our campaign.

Sincerely,
Bill Halter

http://www.billhalter.com

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhSz_ehlOv8&feature=player_embedded

(I think Blanche Lincoln is toast against any Republican, in any case.)

[PHIMG]

10. Sayath the soothsayer. Can you look in your crystal ball and give me some stock picks?

You sound like the people who said Hillary had a lock on the nomination.

[PHIMG]

13. She's allready damaged goods and she's LOSING

"Polls have shown Lincoln trailing a slew of Republican opponents, including Rep. John Boozman and state Sen. Gilbert Baker, as well as more obscure candidates." - Politico

Halter can run as a real populist and as an outsider.

Lincoln is the epitome of a sold out Washington insider.

This isn't about LEFT vs. RIGHT.

This is about CORPORATIST vs. POPULIST.

Halter can run a populist campaign. Lincoln can not. Game over, Blanche.

[MadBadger]

16. Shes on pace to get her ass beat in the General. Doesnt hurt to try

[brentspeak]

17. Any politician today who isn't on Wall Street's payroll is now considered "hard left" n/t

[PHIMG]

9. No safe habor for corporate SELL OUTS. Goodbye Blanche!

I oppose Obamacare because it will delay the only real, sustainable solution to the healthcare crisis - Medicare for All.

That said... the inclusion of a Public Option would been somewhat of a victory for the good guys.

Lincoln killed it because the $2 Million she took from big insurance is more important than doing what's right.

This goes beyond being a DINO.

[Clio the Leo]

11. Will this put pressure on her to vote FOR reconciliation?

Let's hope so .... that's the only upside I can see to this.

[flpoljunkie]

12. It might well.

[brand404]

14. FANTASTIC!! Even if it ends up going (R) this might sway her to vote for Reconc.

I still hate the healthcare bill but i am still hopeful a PO is included later (lol..i know its dead but still)

[Jack Rabbit]

15. That will give us a chance to pick up the seat