Bill Halter Takes the Plunge into AR-Sen

by Jonathan Singer, Mon Mar 01, 2010 at 11:47:49 AM EST

From the campaign website of Arkansas' Democratic Lieutenant Governor, Bill Halter:

Fox News says that this is "trouble" for the Arkansas Democrats. I'm not so sure. Don't get me wrong, incumbent Democratic Senator Blanche Lincoln, against whom Halter is mounting a primary challenge, trails her leading Republican opponent by about 20 points. But she was trailing long before Halter got in the race.

No, this news may actually be good for the Democrats. Both First Read and Political Wire note this morning that as a result of Halter stepping into the Democratic primary, Lincoln's vote becomes significantly more reliable for the Democrats (assuming she wants another term in the Senate) as she has to look over her left shoulder, not just her right. In a Senate where every single vote counts, this could be the difference between passing healthcare reform and not. So perhaps Halter making a race of it isn't really "trouble" after all.

Tags: AR-Sen, Arkansas, Senate 2010, Blanche Lincoln, primary challenge, Bill Halter (all tags)

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3 Comments

Eatapeach
exactly...

there's nothing wrong with a hard contested primary...

by bored now 2010-03-01 11:58AM | 0 recs
Shadow_head_small
Great News

This is exactly what progressives need - punishing corporate Democrats by challenging them in the primaries with more progressive candidates who can win in the general. Halter, a proven vote getter in Arkansa, has a much better chance of winning the general than Lincoln. Progressive activists should get behind him to propel him into office. A Halter victory would resonate throughout the Democratic Party; blue dogs like Landrieu & Bumpers would become extremely cautious in taking on the Democratic Party on major issues.

by carter1 2010-03-01 12:27PM | 0 recs
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Great

Halter will not be a social liberal but he will be a reliable vote on all progressive economic legislation. Great TV appeal and personality and AR Congressman Marion Berry does not like him which makes him good in my book!

by politics64 2010-03-01 05:26PM | 1 recs

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