Obama Portrays Blanche Lincoln As A Populist Crusader In Radio Ad

President Barack Obama has cut his first ad in support of Sen. Blanche Lincoln's re-election campaign, urging Arkansans to back the incumbent Senator for her work on two policy topics that have become focal points of her primary campaign.

In a personally-narrated radio spot, Obama paints Lincoln as a populist crusader who is "leading the fight to hold Wall Street accountable and make sure that Arkansas taxpayers are never again asked to bail out Wall Street bankers."

"On health care," Obama adds, "Blanche took on big insurance companies by voting to end discrimination against Arkansans with preexisting conditions and fought for tax credits that will help thousands of local small businesses provide insurance to their employees."

The ad represents a ramped-up effort on the part of the Democratic establishment to help pull Lincoln past the May 18 primary challenge by Lt. Gov. Bill Halter. On Monday, former President Bill Clinton cut an ad for Lincoln as well, in which he defended her vote for NAFTA and his 1993 stimulus plan.

In both spots the object seems to be shoring up an area considered Lincoln's weakness. Halter has repeatedly brought up Lincoln's vote in favor of TARP as evidence that she's got a soft spot for the financial industry. Her support of NAFTA has been mentioned frequently as well. Halter allies in the labor community, meanwhile, have pointed to the Senator's role in watering down health care reform as a reason to organized behind her ouster from office.

On Tuesday, one of those aggrieved groups -- the Progressive Change Campaign Committee -- announced that they had raised $100,000 for Halter's Democratic primary challenge.

Laura Chapin, a spokesperson for Halter, responded to the ads with the following statement:
"President Clinton endorsed before Lt. Governor Halter announced he was entering the race, and has said very nice things about Lt. Governor Halter, which he certainly appreciates."

And the White House traditionally endorses incumbents, so the endorsement of an incumbent Senator in this case is not a surprise.

Comments

[Tequilatarian]

03:05 PM on 05/05/2010

This is really infuriating...just wrote a comment at whitehouse.gov.

If Obama REALLY wants reform, he would help Lincoln out.

[Arcie Grant]

01:56 PM on 05/05/2010

Lincoln, Nelson, Lieberman, Landrieu--vote them out of office! Participate in the primaries. Vote for Progressives !

[Arcie Grant]

01:48 PM on 05/05/2010

She voted against health care reform, and both Obama and Clinton are endorsing her? This is nothing but CRAP> I'm leaving the Democratic Party!

[brt929]

04:22 PM on 05/11/2010

No, get your facts straight. She voted for it back in December. However, because of her, the Public Option was omitted.

Oh, and Clinton doesn't define the Democratic Party. It is up to us to not be taken in by Obama and Clinton, and take back the party that used to stand for the working and middle class.

[ConservativeAmerica]

01:40 PM on 05/05/2010

Lincoln, now you will see that selling your vote for Health Care Deform is going to end your Senate career. Having Barry Soetorro / Barach Obama campaign for you is not a good thing. Lincoln, you should do what Obey is doing so you don't get defeated and you can get a good lobbying job.

[Marie Russell-Barker]

01:31 PM on 05/05/2010

I can understand the Presidents position on backing Blanch Lincoln, but what I can not understand is Ms. Lincoln stand on was the Health Care Reform Bill, a free clinic was conducted by MSNBC'S Keith Obermann and there were thousand line up for the free health care. Ms. Lincoln never mention this fact or acknowledged that her constituency needed this health care bill, she stuck to her guns voting with the opposition on the bill. I can not see where a free thinking AK would even think of re electing her. She is not one of the best Democrats, that I can see. She was elected to do the right thing not the popular thing so that she could hold her seat.

[ConservativeAmerica]

01:42 PM on 05/05/2010

Not a student of economics are you? What is the demand for a "free good"? Answer, it cannot be defined, it is unlimited. Wait until Obamacare / Health Care Deform gets implemented and their are long lines and substandard care.

[bygollymissmolly]

01:14 PM on 05/05/2010

For the life of me I can't understand Obama supporting her. She has done nothing but obstruct his agenda since he has been in office. Does she have something on him?

[hrc04]

12:19 PM on 05/05/2010

I don't care...as long as they're not negative towards Halter, it doesn't matter to me.

[AirForce Vet]

12:16 PM on 05/05/2010

The POTUS may have called Blanche Lincoln a “populist crusader.” I call her a member of the “lost crusades.”

[ron071]

11:27 AM on 05/05/2010

Always Remember what Blanche has done and what she is.

[WalterJesseSmith]

11:25 AM on 05/05/2010

Obama can't pass up an pportunity to obstruct democracy. So? We have known this about Clinton for nearly two decades, but maybe the dreamy-eyed left wing gliberals will catch on after a few more of Obama's dramatic defenses of business-as-usual senators and congressmembers. You know they are dreamy-eyed when they missed the Obama wheeling and dealing with Billy Tauzin, where Obama did nothing to bring down the price of drugs, and gave away everything PhRMA wanted. He did it again with the so called Health Care reform that was a bailout for Health Insurers. Now he's doing it again with Wall Street, fighting against every decent attempt to turn Dodd's pablum bill into something meaningful.

When will we ever learn?

[ron071]

11:16 AM on 05/05/2010

Blanch Lincoln was and is a traitor to the Democratic agenda. No political endorsements can ever change that. She is as Blue Dog as Bribe-Taker Nelson, Landrieu and Joey Boy Lieberman. Let's let Blanche run on her true record of support for the corporates who fund her every move. Halter is the one who will support the Democratic agenda and not be a sell out or bribe taker.

[farmilyman]

10:33 AM on 05/05/2010

Lincoln is a corporate crusader.

[ron071]

11:19 AM on 05/05/2010

farmilyman has it exactly correct. Let's not forget Blanch Lincoln's despicable behavior during the struggle to improve health care when she obstructed along with the other faux Democrats like Nelson, Landrieu and, of course, Joey Boy Lieberman. She supported the Republican obstructionis agenda then and will do so again if given the chance by sleepy voters in AK.

[DuPageDem]

10:32 AM on 05/05/2010

Obama fraudulently marketed himself as putting the middle class before billionaires, and it worked. Why shouldn't it work for Blanche? The mushy middle has proven itself as dull-witted and easily duped as the teabaggers. If not more.

[ron071]

11:22 AM on 05/05/2010

The Arkansas voters must have been awakened to Blanche Lincoln's true colors and they are all R E D like the corporates she serves. The voters must awaken to the record and not be swayed by political endorsements.

[NYC07]

10:26 AM on 05/05/2010

Why would he support this person? Does she have compromising photos of him or something? She is the worst type of politician one who thinks only of her own monetary needs instead of the needs of the country.

[wonketteRAWKS]

11:52 AM on 05/05/2010

Yes, WHY indeed?

[brt929]

04:24 PM on 05/11/2010

Back room deals.

Although she sure is showing a lot of guts with financial reform.

[Jasel]

10:26 AM on 05/05/2010

I think....

think I'm gonna....

Oh god here it comes....

****VOMIT****