reporter for KUAR in Little Rock, Arkansas.
In the latest test of the power of party establishments and anti-incumbent fervor, eleven states held primary races last night. In Arkansas, Democratic Sen. Blanche Lincoln narrowly defeated a challenge from Lt. Gov. Bill Halter, who had the support of organized labor. In California, two female former CEO's won commanding victories. Former eBay CEO, Meg Whitman took the Republican gubernatorial primary against Steve Poizner, the state's insurance commissioner. Whitman will go on to challenge Jerry Brown, the current state attorney general and former governor. And in California's Senate primary, former Hewlett-Packard CEO, Carly Fiorina won against former Congressman Tom Campbell. Fiorina will face Sen. Barbara Boxer in the fall. California has not sent a Republican to the U.S. Senate since 1988.
Incumbent Senators Arlen Specter (D-Penn.) and Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark.) have had tough fights against primary challengers this spring. As polls open today, we look at these two bellwether races with reporters Michael Hibblen of public radio station, KUAR in Little Rock, and Susan Phillips of WHYY in Philadelphia.
We're talking about anti-incumbent fever. Would you vote against your Congressman or Senator today if you could?