[Via Yahoo News]
LITTLE ROCK—With the Democratic runoff election less than two weeks away, labor unions are doubling down on their attempts to defeat Sen. Blanche Lincoln in Arkansas.
The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees launched an $855,000 TV ad buy in the state earlier this week attacking Lincoln as a Washington insider who has abandoned her constituents:
“When Blanche Lincoln moved her family full time to Washington, D.C., she quickly became part of the place,” the 60-second spot says, as footage shows movers packing up a truck. The ad then hits Lincoln for “cozying up to the lobbyists” and for voting to “bail out her Wall Street buddies.” “Blanche Lincoln packed up and left us years ago,” the ad concludes. “Maybe it’s time for Arkansas to send her packing — for good.”
All told, unions are planning to spend at least $1.4 million to defeat Lincoln just in the final weeks of the campaign, the Associated Press reported; by comparison, outside groups spent more than $2 million in the months leading up to the May 18 primary. Lincoln only narrowly bested her challenger, Lt. Gov. Bill Halter, 45 percent to 43 percent — sending the race into a runoff.
There’s been no polling to show whether the union’s assault has hurt Lincoln’s political standing in the final stretch of the campaign, but she’s not taking their attacks lightly. This week, Lincoln’s campaign aired an ad touting her role in the Wall Street reform bill passed last week by the Senate. The ad quotes news outlets as saying “Big banks want the Lincoln plan killed” and “Lobbyists are lined up against her.”
On Friday, she’ll stand with what her campaign hopes is her secret weapon in the race: Bill Clinton. The former president and Arkansas governor is scheduled to campaign with Lincoln in Little Rock. Although he endorsed her months ago, this is the first time Clinton had made a personal appearance on her behalf. While she’s also gotten President Obama’s endorsement, a Clinton endorsement is probably far more influential among Arkansas Democrats.
