Lincoln's Backers And The White House Flushed $12 Million Down Toilet: Progressive Group

[onehandle]

A new poll showing Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark) in deep general election trouble has compelled a progressive group that opposed her nomination in the Democratic primary to restart their feud with the White House over her candidacy.

On Thursday, a new Rasmussen poll shows Rep. John Boozman (R-Ark.) beating Lincoln by a margin of 61 percent to 32 percent. Rasmussen is notably viewed with skepticism by progressive organizations. But the group Progressive Change Campaign Committee, which poured heavy manpower and resources into electing Lt. Gov Bill Halter in the Democratic primary, jumped on the findings as evidence that Lincoln is as good as dead, electorally.

Noting that the last time a poll was conducted for a prospective general election in Arkansas, Halter trailed Boozman by 9 points (Lincoln trailed by 20), the group's co-founder Adam Green offered a sharp swipe at the administration:

The White House, Bill Clinton, and the big corporations they partnered with just flushed $12 million down the toilet. They worked to defeat the more electable Democrat in the primary -- not to mention the Democrat who would have had Obama's back on key votes. Rahm Emanuel will go down in history as having some of the worst political instincts of all time -- advising Obama to back Specter over Sestak, taunting progressives for backing the more electable candidate in Arkansas, killing the public option that had overwhelming public support, and working to water down Wall Street reform. Brilliance.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/06/17/lincolns-backers-and-the_n_615733.html

That's the ironic thing about the whole Lincoln/Halter race. The winner was bound to lose in the Fall anyway.

[vaberella]

1. It seems Dems were going to lose period. n/t

[dmallind]

2. Possibly. Likely perhaps . However the difference is it's not certain yet

At least the folks who criticized Halter funders (rather crassly though it was) did in fact wait until he had lost,

[WI_DEM]

3. To try and put a nicer pic on this if dems were going to lose this seat anyway

maybe it's best that it's Lincoln who loses it rather than Halter. His coming that close to defeating her in primary may mean he could go on to run for another office without the cloud of losing a GE campaign.

(also while I'm sure Lincoln will probably lose I wish they would have used a more independent poll than Ras).

[ProSense]

4. They need to move on.

It makes no sense to campaign for a Republican win.

It would even be understandable if this was after the fact of her loss (if she loses), but if she doesn't they're going to look silly.

[WeDidIt]

5. There is a bright side to all of this

After Novmeber 2, 2010, those same progressive groups that backed Halter will be justified in saying "we told you so".

[dmallind]

11. No - they won't - Halter was about as far behind.

[WeDidIt]

12. Sure they will.

This is politics, it ain't beanbag.

[kenfrequed]

14. I will sure be saying it!

After all, nine points down is an uphill battle, and not an impossible one. Twenty points down? Well, baring the repug running for the seat being found with a live boy or a dead prostitute in his bed, he will probably trounce Lincoln.

I find it ironic that in my home state of Minnesota, the candidates that have the backing of the conservative centrists of the party and out of state 'Centrist' support always end up using the "electability" argument. Amazing that so many pseudo-centrists didn't even think about that pragmatic argument in this case.

[dmallind]

15. Well sure they will SAY it - they'll just be wrong.

[WeDidIt]

16. No, they'll be right

Perception is everything and it will be on their side after Lincoln loses.

[dmallind]

17. How will that make them right when there was no sign of a Halter win or differential in polling? NT

[WeDidIt]

20. Beause perception is everything

and the perception will be that Lincoln lost, thus confirming the statements by Halter supporters that Lincoln would lose the GE.

Doesn't matter whether or not Halter would have won because we'll never know if Halter would have won or lost.

[Greyhound]

27. Your sig line is an oxymoron.

[Yuugal]

6. K&R

[polichick]

7. Yes, but she's a corporate whore - no amount of money is too much to spend on them...

The corporations she represents will kick it back to the party.

[treestar]

25. Well maybe Boozman isn't a corporate whore?

Are there at least degrees of this whoredom?

[Nite Owl]

8. Halter had a chance

and it sure looks like Lincoln is going to lose big. The WH made a huge mistake backing her and lost a lot of the good will of progressives with their dumb remarks.

[depakid]

9. "Rahm Emanuel will go down in history as having some of the worst political instincts of all time "

He already has a claim on that distinction for his role in 1994's disaster.

Never understood why so much fail got recycled into the administration... seemed at the time like a Harvard guy would have been smarter than that.

[Sebastian Doyle]

23. Problem is that Rahm counts these things as "success"

Just like the rest of the DLC, his entire purpose from day one has been to destroy the Democratic party from within. Whether offices are held by admitted Republicans, or by "Democrats" who vote like Republicans, the end result is the same. A weak, neutered Democratic party. :evilfrown:

[kenny blankenship]

10. If they defeat progressive candidates and keep bipartisan corporatists in power

they will count it money well spent.

[glitch]

13. +win/win for them.

Progressives need to start getting it, it's Corporatists v. Everyone and Everything, not left v. right or even class v. class "elite" v. populist.

[Uzybone]

18. Are there any adults here?

Can we move the fuck on? Geez.

[RBInMaine]

19. I preferred Halter, but she won. Arkansas voters chose. It's over. Move on.

[LaFeminist]

22. The WH didn't move on after the victory

Remember the aide's comment?

[Sebastian Doyle]

24. SOME Arkansas voters chose

Most of the voters in Garland county weren't allowed to.

[Phx_Dem]

21. Yet, she won.

They cite a Rassmussen poll done yesterday for someone who is not even in the race! If Halter was so electable, he would have won.

I'm no fan of Lincoln, but Huffington Post is a joke.

[Greyhound]

26. But, but, but, but...

exactly as everyone predicted.

I'm sure in the end it will be "teh libruls" fault...:eyes:
:kick: & R