2010 ELECTIONS UPDATE:
In Arkansas, where incumbent Democratic Senator Blanche Lincoln has for months now obviously been in trouble when it comes to her chances of being re-elected, comes more news--she'll face a primary challenge:
"Add a primary challenge to Sen. Blanche Lincoln's growing list of political problems. Arkansas Lt. Governor Bill Halter announced Monday morning that he's launching a Democratic primary challenge to Lincoln, who was already facing a tough re-election battle this year."
And make no mistake, this is a challenge from the left:
"Four progressive organizations, the Progressive Change Campaign Committee, Democracy for America, MoveOn.org, and Daily Kos, released an e-mail pledging to raise half a million dollars over the next week for Halter, who worked in President Bill Clinton's administration."
Some paint this as a surprise. I don't think so. Lincoln has moved to the right in order to try and survive in relatively-conservative Arkansas; liberal groups of course haven't been pleased. More importantly, as the linked article notes, Lincoln's been dive-bombing in the polls lately. Nearly every possible Republican candidate either leads or is tied with her. Liberal Democratic groups probably figured they have nothing to lose here; it's not like Lincoln provides Dems with the only hope of retaining the seat. A liberal candidate couldn't do any worse.
It might be a good thing for Republicans and conservatives if Halter wins the primary. Liberals have been saying for some time that conservative Democrats aren't their best candidates, that ordinary Americans would respond better to real, out-and-out, confrontational progressives who loudly back ObamaCare (for example). Well...here, we can test that proposition.
NCAA HOOPS DIARY:
Michigan State 53, Purdue 44: an ugly win for the Spartans on the road. Purdue was without star Robbie Hummel, who's out for the season with a knee injury. But it was still an important win to get for MSU...just not a pretty one. Key stats: Michigan State had 23 turnovers; but defensively they hold Purdue to under 40% shooting.
