(CNN) - The former chairman of the Arkansas Republican Party said Tuesday he's planning to challenge incumbent Democratic Sen. Blanche Lincoln.
"I have decided that during this important time in our nation's history, one should not be a political spectator," Arkansas State Sen. Gilbert Baker said in a statement announcing his primary bid for the 2010 nomination, pledging to help provide "checks and balances on the policies being pushed by President Obama and the D.C. leadership."
Lincoln has long been a top 2010 Republican target. Amber Wilkerson, a spokeswoman for the National Republican Senatorial Committee, praised Baker's move Tuesday, calling it "another indication that Blanche Lincoln is facing an uphill battle in her quest for re-election in 2010."
A campaign spokesman for Lincoln had no comment on Baker or other potential GOP challengers - but the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee signaled a tough fight ahead for the challenger if he captures the Republican nod. "As Baker's record comes under close examination, the people of Arkansas will find a Little Rock insider who repeatedly puts his own self-interest above those he has pledged to serve," said Eric Schultz, the DSCC's communications director.
From CNN Politics
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Away to go! All's fair in love, and war on the senate...
Checks and balances? He clearly has no understanding of the idea.
It isn't equality between fringe right wingers and Democrats...it's between branches of government...sigh...
Run the democrats are done in 2010 and 2012.
Political arena is rapidly becomin' a gladiators' playground. Voters can perhaps claim to be lions waiting to devour the candidates, but if the candidates can tame the voters, they win.
Lincoln was asked by the Arkansas Democrat Gazette why she wasn't having "town hall" meetings in August about healthcare. Her response was that she had already had several in April, May, and June and didn't see the need for more now...
This is why she is going to have an uphill battle.
Hope he wins we need to check up on this spending.
If she don't get behind president Obama she can kiss my vote good-bye-bye and bye. then she can turn the purple dogg.
say this with me OBAMA, OBAMA, OBAMA'S HEALTH PLAN Senator Blanche. get behind him or my vote for you are gone
I do not live in the state, but I wish any one luck in challenging
incumbents (either party)
Hey could we for once keep the debates about how you
will represent your state and not about what someone did when they
were in diapers! What their qualification are for elected office ect....
If some thing is brought out from some one past please make sure
it is relevant. I sooo.. tried of negative ad's of any kind!
Is this guy a little light in the loafers or what?
Where do they find these boneheads...are they new to the planet. I'm sure most Republicans are counting on the short memory of the
American people, but not this time....you had 8 years to make me love you and you failed....
I have come to the conclusion that the Republicans serve one purpose and one purpose only...themselves!
Republicans don't care about the American people they only care about winning.
Greed and Ignorance rules the Republican Party!
Someone should explain to the good State Senator what 'checks and balances' refers to when applied to federal government.
Please people, learning the fundamentals of your own government is not that tricky.
Sends him your "checks" and he'll check his "balances".
Here comes another loser.
Where do they keep finding these pod people?
Here they come. The Republicans that have been waiting in the wings are swooping in to take advantage of the corrupt Democrats. Change is coming but it's not the kind that Obama foresaw.