Lincoln shocks everyone by winning

Sen. Blanche Lincoln, D-Ark., has provided the surprise of the night by winning her primary runoff. Having failed to get more than 45 percent of the vote in the first round of the state’s primary, she looked like a goner. Instead, she has survived until November.

Her victory over Lt. Gov Bill Halter, D, suggests two things: First, this is an anti-liberal year, not just an anti-incumbent year — at least in Arkansas. Second, labor unions’ electoral clout is even weaker than that of incumbents. Despite spending $10 million to defeat Lincoln, the unions have come up empty and left her with no incentive to support them.