Open Thread: Big Labor Takes a Hit in Arkansas

June 9th, 2010 9:33 AM

Ben Smith says he was contacted by a "senior White House official this morning" regarding union support for Sen. Blanche Lincoln's opponent in the Arkansas runoff.

"Organized labor just flushed $10 million of their members' money down the toilet on a pointless exercise," the official said. "If even half that total had been well-targeted and applied in key House races across this country, that could have made a real difference in November."...

Lincoln foe Bill Halter had the unstinting support of the AFL-CIO, SEIU, AFSCME and other major unions. And labor officials Tuesday evening were already working to spin the narrow loss of their candidate, Bill Halter, as a moral victory, but the cost in money and in the goodwill of the White House may be a steep price to pay for a near miss.

Lincoln is probably a more electable candidate given her state, so should conservatives be pleased at this turn of events?