Health Care Could Cost Lincoln, Poll Finds

[jefferson_dem]

Health Care Could Cost Lincoln, Poll Finds
December 3, 2009 2:23 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | Share This

By Steven Shepard

As Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-AR) considers her posture on upcoming Senate health care votes, a new poll out today conducted for the liberal blog DailyKos.com shows that her electoral interests may be pulling her in different directions.

Lincoln has a one-point lead, 42%-41%, over state Sen. Gilbert Baker (R), down from a seven-point advantage in Sept. She also has a small lead over Safe Foods Corp CEO Curtis Coleman (R), 44%-39%, but leads GOP also-rans Tom Cox (45%-31%) and Kim Hendren (46%-30%) by healthier margins.

But the Kos poll, conducted 11/30-12/02 by Research 2000, also tests the possibility of a primary challenge from LG Bill Halter (D). While it seems that Halter has work to do to broaden his statewide profile, less than half of AR Dems are sold on Lincoln as their party's nominee in '10.

In the poll, Lincoln holds a 42%-26% advantage over Halter among Dem primary LVs. When asked how they would vote if Lincoln joined a GOP-led filibuster of the Dems' health-care reform effort in the Senate, the gap narrowed to 37%-27%.

The Dem defectors over health care wouldn't flock to Halter, yet. But Halter, elected three years ago, recently championed the opening of an alternative, free health clinic for the uninsured in Little Rock, appearing on MSNBC's "Countdown" to trumpet the effort.

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http://hotlineoncall.nationaljournal.com/archives/2009/12/health_care_cou.php

[PBS Poll-435]

1. I think she will eek through next year's midterms

A lot like Landrieu in 2002.