White House Backs Blanche Lincoln In Primary

Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark.) might be under siege from within her own party, with the announcement on Monday that she will face a primary challenger for her Senate seat in 2010. But at least she has the support of the president.

"We support Senator Lincoln as an incumbent senator," White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said on Monday.

The short-worded endorsement follows a fairly regular pattern set forth by this administration, in which they have endorsed the incumbent candidate in a primary election. Sens. Arlen Specter (D-Penn.) and Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) both have Obama's backing.

But Lincoln is in a far more precarious electoral state than either of those two, with a host of progressive groups already campaigning for her defeat. And senior Democrats are not dismissing out of hand the possibility that her challenger, Arkansas Lieutenant Governor Bill Halter, could pick her off in the primary.

Comments

[Franklin Print]

02:30 AM on 03/04/2010

Arkansas Senator Blanche Lincoln is one of the worst corporate Democrats in Washington. Bill Halter, the populist Arkansas Lt. Governor, just announced he will run against Lincoln in the 2010 Democratic primary.

Can you help Bill Halter defeat a Corporate Democrat by chipping in $5 or more to his campaign?

http://www.actblue.com/page/dumplincoln

Please forward these links to every progressive you know who is sick and tired of corporate Democrats like Lincoln, Lieberman, Nelson and the rest.

This is the best opportunity we'll have in 2010 to show corporate Democrats in the Senate that when they oppose change, there will be payback.

Please chip in $5 or more to Bill Halter today.

http://www.actblue.com/

[wethepeople3884]

05:24 PM on 04/07/2010

Halter was the first politician I ever donated money to and I have a feeling I wont regret it nor can I think of anyone better to give money to for my first. He stands for what is right against everything that is wrong within the democrat party. Lincoln is derailing the progressive movement at every turn from within the party most of us vote for - exactly the reason I never associate myself as a democrat. And bill halter needs money far more than obama did in his presidential run. Plus, the race is extremely close = any amount of campaign funding could make a difference. Im proud to support bill halter against blanche lincoln even if obama is not (and of course, that might end up being the best thing that ever happened to halter anyway as Arkansas residents are destroying obama and healthcare in every poll they are handed.) It will be a tremendous up hill battle but i think halter has a very good chance here and he is a very bright guy. Halter is actually doing better against republican opponents than lincoln is.

[SayLessDoMore]

08:50 PM on 03/02/2010

Damning with faint praise.

The democratic wing of the Democratic party wants Halter to win.

[nice2blucky]

05:25 PM on 03/02/2010

Democratic Primary challengers and winners are exactly what the Democratic Party needs, before the only alternative is a Republican.

Most-to-all incumbents need to go. It is time to stop nitpicking about experience and qualifications, and employing any logic to hold onto the nothing that we presently have.

If the new one fails, ... same thing ... out in the Democratic Primary.

Unless the politician is so amazing as to be a definite keeper, this is the best thing for everyone.

Out with the Democratic incumbents in Democratic Primaries, and never vote Republican.

... ... ...

The sad part is the rationalizing to keep these weak representatives, ... including Obama in the 2012 Democratic Primaries.

Lose them for their failings and never look back. It's the road to a more representative future.

Wake up.

[suvbaby]

03:57 PM on 03/02/2010

That and a nickel will get her a cup of coffee

[Stuyvesant73]

02:52 PM on 03/04/2010

Suvbaby, where can you get that five-cent coffee?

[maserati2]

03:48 PM on 03/02/2010

The gauntlet is down, sides have been chosen, let the games begin!

So Blanche Lincoln, the Rep-Demon that refused to support the party bill is the chosen rep for the Rahm administration. Are we surprised?

[Dustee]

01:15 PM on 03/02/2010

Well Blanche, the President said what he was supposed to say. But you're going down.

[charlietuna11]

01:11 PM on 03/02/2010

obama went to nevada to help reid and reids numbers went down. indorsing blanch is a kiss of death.obama had a chance to shape america into a respected nation. instead ,he has destroyed his loyal base to capture the support of those who abso;utely despise him. never have i been so disappointed in a president . if he won't fight for his own programs, how will he fight for others? after the bush/cheney disaster , we in america deserved much better.

[SayLessDoMore]

08:47 PM on 03/02/2010

Well, that's one way of looking at it. And, maybe not wrong.

BUT, politics gets even more complicated when you are trying to govern instead of running for election. For one thing, "yes," "no," "up," and "down" become ambiguous concepts.

Don't be so sure that Obama has given up on everything if, in fact, he has given up on some things. Trying to get a health care bill passed requires the votes of seated politicians, not candidates. And there is a LOT of posturing that you and I might disdain ... but the ends DO justify the means in politics, if the end is laudable and the means don't offend me permanently.

"Me," of course, being one of those ambiguous concepts.

[MaryanneAZ]

03:13 PM on 03/03/2010

That is only true if you believe everything you read. For one thing, the only voices out there in Nevada are the hopefuls. The hopefuls have a clear field because Reid has been quite busy as Leader. Once Reid turns his attention to his re-election effort, then the tide will turn. He did not get where he is by happenstance. His voters know him and his record, and both will carry him through to re-election. Too many people THINK they are President Obama's base, but never bothered to learn who he is and what he believes -- read his books. If people had vetted the President, then they would not be so disappointed to learn that he is not superman or houdini. No magic wand. No crystal ball. And 13 months is a nanosecond in politics, not a full term. With supporters like those who comment here of eroding supporting, President Obama does not need any outside enemies.

[dsws]

01:03 PM on 03/02/2010

A tepid statement through a spokesperson isn't meaningful backing. I expect the president to actually campaign for whichever of them wins the primary.

[naschkatze]

12:11 PM on 03/02/2010

It proves my hunch that the senators are more loyal to their fellow senators than they are to party or country. And that goes for former senators.

[Seattlelite]

11:48 AM on 03/02/2010

Well what would you expect the President to say? She's still in office and can vote! Ever heard that term "hell has no fury like a woman scorned"?

[GerryOregon]

11:55 AM on 03/02/2010

Hell has no fury like the Democratic base scorned as witnessed by the fierce primary challenge to Blanche Lincoln. Money is pouring in from all over the country.

And Jane Hamshire of Firedog Lake says it so well,

"Some will try to paint our push for candidates like Bill Halter as a "purge" of "moderates" from the Democratic party. It's not. Blanche Lincoln is a radical corporatist. That's not the "center" of anything."

[Seattlelite]

04:41 PM on 03/02/2010

Amen to that! But right now while she's IN office the President has to play nice. Don't expect him to back her challenger.

[Chase Price]

11:45 AM on 03/02/2010

And Obama will support Lincoln when she loses and then runs as an independent?

[naschkatze]

12:09 PM on 03/02/2010

A la Joe Lieberman?

[MaryanneAZ]

03:14 PM on 03/03/2010

Does Arkansas law support such a run? Most States do not allow a run if you lose your Primary in a Party -- the sore loser law. CT has no such law.

[Terypat]

10:26 AM on 03/02/2010

I love how the Democrats stick together even when they don't.

[vjones26]

10:02 AM on 03/02/2010

Let's see, Change we can believe in??? Change Lincoln, Landrieu, Nelson, and Lieberman.

Another strike for ObamaRahma IMO.

[Quietfox]

09:51 AM on 03/02/2010

The White House was wrong to support a health care bill without a public option, a banking reform bill that is written to specifications dictated by the Banks, and supporting Blanche Lincoln. I consider this strike three.

[MaryanneAZ]

03:17 PM on 03/03/2010

Wow. 13 months and you are all in? We elect our Senators/Reps, the White House has to support them. The voters spoke and said this is who represents the democratic values in Arkansas. If Arkansas wants the White House to support someone else, then Arkansas needs to elect someone else. Very simple concept.

[Bude]

08:59 AM on 03/02/2010

Good, then Obama will lose another one!

Obama will listen to progressives, or go back to teaching school.

[Bados]

11:26 AM on 03/02/2010

attempt at belittling BO FAIL!!!!!!!!
Since when is being a constitutional law professor at a major university simply " teaching school"?
IF he doesnt win again dont you think he has a couple options on the table?
Things such as:
Writing more books that sell by the millions.
Starting a foundation helping causes around the world.
Traveling the world giving speeches for hundreds of thousands of dollars
Relaxint enjoy the millions he has and raise his kids for a while.
Becoming a high powered lawyer.

You my way or the highway progrssive posters are hilarious. You're like Teapartiers with a vocabulary and access to a dictionary.

[dsws]

01:06 PM on 03/02/2010

I want to see him serve on the Supreme Court after his second term is over.

[eolufemi]

03:04 PM on 03/02/2010

co-signed