Sen. Lincoln fights criticism on health reform positions in primary run-off battle

The Associated Press: "After vowing that she answered to Arkansas and not the Democratic Party — only to find herself forced into a runoff vote by a rival backed by liberal activists — Sen. Blanche Lincoln is embracing the left as she fights to keep her job." She is running ads that highlight her support of the recently passed health bill that feature a liberal talk show host. "Lincoln seems to move to the left in her latest television spots as she fights a challenge from Lt. Gov. Bill Halter in the June 8 runoff for the Democratic Senate nomination. ... But Lincoln ... has faced heavy criticism and a high-dollar push from labor unions and liberal groups that have backed Halter's bid. They cite her opposition to a public option as part of the health care plan and for voting against a companion bill." She also has been criticism from the right for supporting the health overhaul (DeMillo, 5/26).

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This article was reprinted from khn.org with permission from the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. Kaiser Health News, an editorially independent news service, is a program of the Kaiser Family Foundation, a nonpartisan health care policy research organization unaffiliated with Kaiser Permanente.