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| May Could Be the Cruelest Month for Senate Incumbents |
| 2010-05-09 |
| Over the next 11 days, the Senate could lose three of its incumbents in primary fights. For some perspective on how politically stunning that fact is, consider this: since 1980, only seven senators have lost their seat in a primary election. And one of them, Connecticut's Joe Lieberman, rebounded to win the general election. Now, Utah Republican Sen. Bob Bennett, Arkansas Democratic Sen. Blanche Lincoln, and Pennsylvania Republican-turned-Democratic Sen. Arlen Specter are facing serious intra-party fights to hold on to their seats. Bennett could lose his seat on Saturday, when 3,500 delegates at the Utah Republican Party's state convention will vote for their party's nominee. Bennett is facing two strong challenges, from attorney Mike Lee and businessman Tim Bridgewater. Two outcomes are possible: one candidate secures 60% of the delegate vote and wins the nomination without a primary, or the delegates winnow the field to two candidates who would face off in a June primary election. Bennett's best hope is to win enough support to force a primary, but even then his re-election prospects are tough considering the anti-incumbent surge in his home state. In Arkansas, Lincoln is facing two Democrats in the May 18 primary, but her main challenger is Lt. Gov Bill Halter. He is challenging her from the left flank, aided by unions and liberal activists who want to oust the more centrist Lincoln. The senator is leading in the polls, but the closing days of the race will be crucial. Outside groups are also playing heavily in this race. The SEIU, for example, just dropped $1 million in television and radio ads attacking Lincoln's record on jobs. She has the backing of key Democrats, including Arkansas's own former President Bill Clinton. Specter switched parties to boost his re-election prospects in the Keystone State, but 2010 could be the year that he couldn't win as a Republican or a Democrat. National and state Democrats initially scoffed at Rep. Joe Sestak's upstart primary bid, and the senator enjoyed months of double-digit polling advantages. But Sestak has steadily closed the gap. He's spending the final days reminding Democratic voters that Specter, for 45 years, was a Republican. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #8 The 3-term senator was targeted by Tea Party activists and other groups for supporting the first traunch of TARP. Bennett broke a promise he made to only serve two terms. He was vying for his fourth term. MSNBC was reporting this. They must have swallowed hard to report the story. Matthews, Maddow, and Olbermann must be turning over in their figurative graves. |
| Posted by: JohnQC 2010-05-09 20:55 |
| #7 dude will be 77 this September. Go out with grace, Bob. |
| Posted by: Frank G 2010-05-09 12:57 |
| #6 "I do think I still have a lot of juice left in me," Bennett said following his loss. "We'll see what the future may bring." V. interesting choice of words. "Juice" usually implies money-making, revenue-generating ability. What are you willing to bet that Bennett decides to become yet another ex-pol multi-million $ rainmaker for a) a lobbying firm serving Wall Street clients, b) a hedge fund or dealmaking unit of an investment bank (cf John Edwards, Tom Daschle, Rahm E. after he left the WH and began pimping the Clinton donor list for Wasserstein Perella) c) a "green tech" venture fund that seeks to shape legislation in order to, so to speak, juice up the ROI for its dodgy investments (cf Khosla's attempt to steer billions in California public funds toward Kleiner Perkins via his own ballot initiative a few years back) d) some combination of a), b) and c) |
| Posted by: lex 2010-05-09 12:36 |
| #5 She has the backing of key Democrats, including Arkansas's own former President Bill Clinton. Talk about being Dammed with faint praise. This statement illustrates that perfectly. |
| Posted by: Redneck Jim 2010-05-09 12:30 |
| #4 "I do think I still have a lot of Find Florida, a palm tree lined golf course or a fishing boat PLEASE! |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2010-05-09 11:40 |
| #3 Utah's other senator, Orrin Hatch, was on TV commenting on Bennett's defeat and said Bennett had "earned the right to that senate seat." I think that comment speaks volumes about the sense of entitlement Hatch and other senators have. |
| Posted by: Biff Wellington 2010-05-09 11:01 |
| #2 I heard Bennett speak on the TV re his defeat. He said he knew that some of his votes might be controversial and end his career. What struck me in his statement was the phrase: "might end his career." I realized that these officials view their jobs as "careers" -- not as temporary elected positions where they serve their country at the behest of the American people. Also implicit in his statement is that he didn't give a flip about the will of the voters. |
| Posted by: JohnQC 2010-05-09 10:08 |
| #1 Bennett lost his seat now. Who's next? I would love to see Specter thrown out. |
| Posted by: DarthVader 2010-05-09 00:06 |