Ark Senate: Lincoln's voting snafu

Blanche Lincoln and her husband, Steve, file provisional paperwork at a polling place in Little Rock Tuesday. (AP/Danny Johnston)

by James Oliphant

Probably not the way Blanche Lincoln and her campaign wanted things to go.

Lincoln, trying to hold onto her Senate seat, showed up at her precinct polling place in Little Rock Tuesday ready to cast her vote. But she was told she couldn't. Apparently, she has already requested an absentee ballot to be sent to her home in Virginia.

In a year where voters hold strong anti-Washington sentiments, appearing to be an "absentee" member of Congress is not, by any means, the message any incumbent wants to send.

Lincoln and her husband had to fill out a provisional ballot instead.

The embarrassing moment was first reported by CNN's Dana Bash via Twitter.

Lincoln is trying to stave off a challenge from Democratic Lt. Gov. Bill Halter. But the presence of a third candidate in the primary race, D.C. Morrison, means Lincoln could win but finish with less than 50 percent of the vote. If that happens, Lincoln would face Halter in a runoff June 8.

Most political observers in Arkansas have long believed that Lincoln would only grow weaker as a candidate the longer she is exposed to Halter's attacks. Right now, Lincoln's undeniable advantage is her name recognition, an asset that is diminishing over time.

A delay would harm Lincoln in another way. She's the author of tough legislation that would heavily regulate the derivatives market, and she has campaigned on a message of standing up to Wall Street.That bill, however, is expected to be modified on the Senate floor in the coming weeks.