http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703890904575296992971792022.html?mod=googlenews_wsjBy STEPHANIE SIMON And KRIS MAHER
After pouring $10 million into a failed bid to deny Arkansas Sen. Blanche Lincoln her party's nomination, national labor leaders woke up Wednesday to a chorus of questions from friends and foes alike.
Mainly, what were they thinking?
In a year in which Democrats face tough fights in dozens of key House, Senate and gubernatorial races, why would labor pump so much time and money into an intra-party primary battle against a two-term Democratic incumbent in a state that's long been hostile to unions?
"It's unfortunate," said Sen. Claire McCaskill, a Missouri Democrat. She said the tough primary had strengthened Ms. Lincoln as a candidate in November, but said divisive primaries such as Arkansas' would present a "challenge for us in terms of resources" for other races nationally.
Sen. John Cornyn (R., Texas), agreed—with delight. "That'll be $10 million they won't be able to spend in November," he said.
A day after the elections, union leaders robustly defended their decision to go all out to support Lt. Gov. Bill Halter, who nearly tied Ms. Lincoln in last month's primary, but then fell short in Tuesday's runoff, 52% to 48%.
"This might sound somewhat naive and Pollyanna-ish, but we truly feel
if we're out there doing what we believe to be on the side of working families," said Ricky Belk, secretary-treasurer of the Arkansas AFL-CIO.
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