Embattled Democrat Blanche Lincoln Draws Primary Challenge

ABC News' David Chalian Reports:  Arkansas Lt. Gov. Bill Halter leaned into the "Washington is broken" meme and announced he will challenge embattled incumbent Democrat Sen. Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas in a Democratic primary. This is more unwelcome 2010 news for Democrats.  Lincoln's race is already a toss-up, and now she will have to fend off a potentially strong primary before focusing her energies on hanging on to her seat in a general. Republicans have a crowded primary on their side too.  National Republicans have been rallying around Rep. John Boozman, R-Ark., as their best shot at defeating Lincoln. "Today I'm announcing that I will run in the Democratic primary for the United States Senate," says Halter in a video released this morning prior to his filing his papers and formally announcing his campaign tomorrow. "Washington is broken.  It’s working for the special interests, not Arkansas families.  Bailing out Wall Street with no strings attached while leaving middle class Arkansas taxpayers with the bill.  Protecting insurance company profits instead of protecting patients and lowering health costs.  Bickering and engaging in partisan games while unemployment is at a 25 year high.  Enough is enough.  It's past time to put more Arkansas values in Washington," Halter goes on to say in the video. It is clear the Lieutenant Governor is tapping into the populism that has been fueling much of the 2010 election cycle on both sides of the aisle.  He will attempt to paint Sen. Lincoln as the ultimate Washington insider. This dynamic is creating several primary headaches –or potential headaches — for the White House and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee.  Rep. Joe Sestak, D-Pa., is taking a similar path against the White House backed Sen. Arlen Specter in Pennsylvania.  Former Rep. Harold Ford, Jr. is considering a primary run against the establishment supported Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand in New York.  And in Colorado, the appointed Sen. Michael Bennet is facing a primary challenge from former House Speaker Andrew Romanoff. In a year where Democrats are looking at losing five to eight seats in the Senate, the last thing the party needed was an additional primary challenge. Sen. Lincoln has known she is one of the most vulnerable incumbent Democrats since the start of the cycle.  Vice President Joe Biden appeared at her campaign kickoff fundraiser one year ago in a strong demonstration of White House support. Despite her vulnerability, Sen. Lincoln has voted with her caucus on two of the most controversial votes last year.  She voted in facor of the stimulus bill and the health care legislation still making its way through Congress. The Arkansas primary is May 18.