Senator Lincoln has powerful friends after the 2008 DNC Convention

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Does the Democratic Party have its own version of the Tea Party in the Progressive movement? In a bizaaro-world version of Rand Paul’s victory in Kentucky or Bob Bennett’s Tea Party inspired loss, Progressives have been gathering momentum around Progressive candidate Bill Halter and against moderate incumbent Sen. Blanche Lincoln. Despite support from President Obama and former President Bill Clinton, Halter forced a runoff in the primary.

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   BillHalter Polls are open until 7:30pm today. Please get out and vote! Find your polling place: http://bit.ly/9101oi #ARSen #billhalter 08 Jun 2010 from web

There was no verified Blanche Lincoln Twitter account at the time of this post.

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   smsyellowpages Bill Halter, Blanche Lincoln Take Runoff Bids into Final Hours: Lincoln and Halter have spent more… http://bit.ly/drzUiD – Keep Watching! 08 Jun 2010 from twitterfeed
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   21stCenturyDems Today is the run-off election between Bill Halter and Blanche Lincoln in Arkansas. Let’s show corporate Democrats… http://bit.ly/9Pvrpb 08 Jun 2010 from Facebook

Over $10 million has been spent on campaigning. Some feel the resources spent and the attack ads will only do damade to the winner’s chances in the general election. Republican  Congressman John Boozman currently leads in polling over either winner. Republican Chair Michael Steele thought the “intraparty civil war” would only help Boozman.

Some Republicans are again trying a strategy, much like the famous “Operation Chaos” in the 2008 Presidential Primary,  and are making no bones about trying to rig the race in their favor.

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   stacksjp Make sure to vote in today’s run off if you are eligible… FYI vote Lincoln so she can get waxed on Nov 2, Halter is a wild card 08 Jun 2010 from HootSuite

This race may have as much of a symbolic impact future ideological direction of the Democratic party as the Rand Paul Kentucky victory did for the Republican party.

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   ggreenwald Today would be a good day if Blanche Lincoln is removed from the Senate. Would send a nice message to national Democrats. 08 Jun 2010 from web

However, even if the Progressive candidate were to unseat the incumbent, the message it would send may still be murky.

Is it a signal that voters are displaying their anger at Washington party politics and voting for anti-establishment candidates? Keep in mind that Halter is the Lt. Governor of Arkansas, which isn’t exactly a huge leap. Rand Paul on the other hand, despite having little to no political experience to boost his anti-establishment credentials, in all likelihood benefited from patronage. The Rands could just as easily be the Tea Party’s answer to the Kennedys.

Is it that voters are becoming less interested in moderate ideals or is it that it is simply easier to generate more of a buzz around idealism than it is around moderation and compromise?

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   SociaEnterprise I hope the White House will finally support Bill Halter once he wins the Primary 08 Jun 2010 from web
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   didderbops Taking bets:How long b4 media bemoans loss of another “reasonable moderate” after Blanche Lincoln loses? Less than 24 hrs is oddson favorite 08 Jun 2010 from Twitter for BlackBerry®
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   youvotedforhim Surprisingly, Blanche Lincoln is accused by the unions of being too conservative. Gees. We really need to educate these people. 08 Jun 2010 from API
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   SoccerMouaz Voter For Blanche Lincoln today she’s the only chance to keep a Moderate Senator in office from Arkansas 08 Jun 2010 from web

As the evening progressed it proved to be a pretty close race. With about 50% of precincts reporting it was well within the margin of error.

At the end of the day, the forces of incumbency and powerful friends in current President Obama and former President Bill Clinton were too much for Halter to overcome. Blanche Lincoln won with 52% of the vote.

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   politico AP calls it for Sen. Blanche Lincoln. #ARSEN 09 Jun 2010 from web
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   pourmecoffee Cheers going up at Blanche Lincoln headquarters: “When I say Status, you say Quo! Status!” 09 Jun 2010 from TwitterGadget
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   jackwadeshow Bill Halter is a true agent of change. The White House did everything they could to put Blanche Lincoln into office. #p2 #notmychange 09 Jun 2010 from web
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   SarahFlowers Bill Halter is one hell of a guy. I am very proud to have worked for him and on behalf of middle class families. 09 Jun 2010 from web
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   kylemtownsend Here’s to a strong, sensible voice in the senate – Blanche Lambert Lincoln – and her fierce effort, knocking off Bill Halter – twice! 09 Jun 2010 from txt

Lincoln was moved further to the left on financial reform by Halter’s campaign and now claims she “gets” why there was an anti-incumbent surge.