Reinforcements.
A labor source confirmed to TPMDC tonight that the AFL-CIO voted to back new Senate candidate Lt. Gov Bill Halter over Sen. Blanche Lincoln in the May 18 Democratic primary in Arkansas. Three unions within the umbrella group have committed to a $3 million independent expenditure on Halter's behalf.
SEIU plays coy in this story, but the union already fundraised to eliminate Halter's debt from his Lt. Governor's campaign. They've invested heavily in the insurgent, it would be weird for them to cut him off now.
But check it out -- Lincoln has about $5 million in the bank. Halter starts with zero, but the netroots raised over $600,000 on Monday alone, and is on its way to raising $1 million within the first week or two. The AFL-CIO will spend $3 million on IE, and likely encourage its membership to contribute directly to Halter's campaign. Suddenly, the gap to Lincoln's war chest is almost bridged.
Throw in other unions, environmental groups who will hopefully join the fray, and the netroots' continued fundraising efforts through mid-May, and Halter is suddenly financially competitive without having to spend excessive amount of time and energy begging big donors for money. Lincoln can host all the ritzy fundraisers talking to the big money in places like DC and Houston, as long as we empower Halter to spend his time talking to actual Arkansas voters.
And Halter doesn't even need to match Lincoln dollar for dollar. Given her favorability ratings are in toxic territory, it's not like Halter has to work hard to turn voters against the incumbent. She's managed to do that all by her lonesome self -- her obnoxious showboating alienated Democrats, disgusted independents, and failed to impress Republicans. It's now up to Halter to give voters a viable alternative to the status quo.
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Update: Alright, who wants to help us break 1,000 donors? We're just about there!
Update II: Five more contributors to 1,000! Hurry, so I can move the goalposts!
Update III: And we did it! 1,000 contributors! Now it's time to move the goalposts!