Halter to challenge Lincoln in U.S. Senate race
by March 1, 2010 8:12 am 81 views
Lt. Gov. Bill Halter announced early Monday that he will challenge U.S. Sen. Blanche Lincoln, D-Ark., in the Democratic primary.
With 2009 delivering a variety of polls showing Lincoln’s support weak among likely Arkansas voters, it was widely rumored that Halter or another prominent Democrat would challenge the incumbent. In January, Public Policy Polling released survey results which showed U.S. Rep. John Boozman, R-Rogers, holding a 56-33 margin over Lincoln. Also, the PPP survey showed State Sen. Gilbert Baker, R-Conway, defeating Lincoln by a 50-35 margin.
Lincoln has been hit from both political sides. Conservative Democrats have opposed her support of controversial legislation, including her support of TARP and the health care bill. Liberal Democrats have criticized her for appeasing conservatives with her opposition to Card Check and her unwillingness to fully support cap and trade legislation.
Halter comes to the race with personal wealth likely to minimize Lincoln’s $5 million-plus campaign fund. Following is a transcript of a video from Halter’s Web site.
Today I’m announcing that I will run in the Democratic primary for the United States Senate. Washington is broken. It’s working for the special interests, not Arkansas families. Bailing out Wall Street with no strings attached while leaving middle class Arkansas taxpayers with the bill. Protecting insurance company profits instead of protecting patients and lowering health costs. Bickering and engaging in partisan games while unemployment is at a 25-year high. Enough is enough. It’s past time to put more Arkansas values in Washington.
This is not a decision I make lightly. Serving Arkansas as your Lt. Governor for the past three years has been an incredible honor. Shanti and I have carefully considered the implications for our family and we appreciate the encouragement we have received from every corner of the state.
In the end I cannot stand by while jobs are shipped overseas, seniors are pushed to the brink and big banks and insurance companies get bailed out while Arkansans are left to pay for a mess we didn’t create.
We know it is possible to stand up for Arkansas values and Arkansas families and get things done, because we have done it right here in our state.
Our toughest fight was to establish the scholarship lottery. Most believed it couldn’t be done. But I took a principled stand that Arkansas voters should decide this issue for themselves and Arkansans approved the scholarship program by almost two to one.
This year alone we’ll help over 20,000 Arkansas families pay for college — without raising taxes. Working in President Clinton’s budget office, I helped balance the federal budget for the first time in 40 years.
As a leader of Social Security I helped fight off the Republican and Wall Street schemes to privatize it. When the legislature moved to increase their pay in these tough economic times, I gave my increase to charity.
Creating good paying jobs. Providing education and opportunity for all who work hard and play by the rules. Protecting seniors and families. Fiscal responsibility. Standing up to the special interests. These are my principles I’ve stood up for here in Arkansas — and these are the principles I’ll take to Washington.