MoveOn.org today endorsed Lt. Gov. Bill Halter in a Democratic primary challenge against already embattled Sen. Blanche Lincoln in Arkansas.
MoveOn announced in an email that 92 percent of their more than 4 million members voted to support the primary. It’s no real surprise since the progressive group has long targeted Lincoln, but their support could catapult the already tight race to become a repeat of Sen. Joe Lieberman’s Democratic primary in Connecticut in 2006.
MoveOn Executive Director Justin Ruben said in a statement they consider Lincoln “one of the worst corporate Democrats in Washington.”
“With Bill Halter, our Arkansas members see a candidate who will stand up to special interests. Arkansans deserve someone who’ll fight for them, not Wall Street,” Ruben said.
MoveOn asked members to give cash to Halter to compete with Lincoln’s $5 million war chest.
Progressive Change Campaign Committee also endorsed Halter and is doing a “Dump Lincoln” fundraising drive. Democracy for America also backed Halter for the May 18 primary, calling Lincoln a “Healthcare Villain.”
“Last year, we said Senators who stand against the America people — will stand alone for reelection. Today, we can prove it,” DFA told members in an email, calling Halter a “real Democrat.”
TPMDC is checking with the White House to see if they will weigh in and support Lincoln in the contested primary as they have done with incumbents in Pennsylvania and Colorado. But it’s worth noting that administration aides heaped praise on Lincoln’s role in shaping the health care bill last year.
