Lt. Gov. Bill Halter appears to have forced Sen. Blanche Lincoln, D-Ark., into a June 8 runoff. The result ends a night whose outcome has to please Democrats. With Lincoln’s defeat very likely in the runoff, they now stand a chance of nominating candidates who have a chance in both Arkansas and Pennsylvania. With Republican Tim Burns swept away in the heavy Democratic turnout for the up-ticket primaries, Democrats won the special House election in Jack Murtha’s southwest Pennsylvania district.
And Republicans nominated a candidate in Kentucky whom Democrats at least believe to be vulnerable, although he leads in every opinion poll.
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Republicans will begin with a lead in the Senate races in Pennsylvania, Arkansas and Kentucky, and by chance they have an opening in Connecticut on the same day. But none of these races will be a sure thing. It should serve as a reminder to the GOP that large gains this year are not a foregone conclusion.
Meanwhile, President Obama’s ability to motivate his base voters is once again called into question. His heavy support for Specter proved ineffective. His backing of Lincoln might have been counterproductive. These two defeats follow his unsuccessful campaigns on behalf of Democrats Martha Coakley in Massachusetts, Jon Corzine in New Jersey, and Creigh Deeds in Virginia.
