The stage was set Monday for heated Democratic and Republican primaries in the U.S. Senate race in Arkansas as the deadline passed to file for state and federal offices in this year's elections.
Four of the eight Republicans running for the GOP nomination for Democratic Sen. Blanche Lincoln's seat were among the last to file by the noon deadline. Lincoln already faces a tough primary challenge from Democratic Lt. Gov. Bill Halter, who made his bid official last week.
Randy Alexander of Springdale, state Sen. Gilbert Baker of Conway, former state Sen. Jim Holt of Springdale and retired Army Col. Conrad Reynolds of Conway filed paperwork at the state Capitol on Monday. Arkansas' primaries are May 18.
They round out a crowded GOP field that includes John Boozman, the state's only Republican congressman who dropped a re-election bid to run for Senate. Boozman continued to be a target of criticism from his rivals, who indirectly targeted the congressman and his votes.
"A $700 billion government bailout was not the way to go," Baker told reporters after filing, referring to the $700 billion bailout of the nation's financial system that Boozman and the state's other three congressmen supported in 2008.
When asked whether he believed Boozman was part of the problem, Baker replied: "D.C. is absolutely the problem."
Boozman has defended his vote for the bailout, saying he believed it helped prevent a meltdown of the nation's economy.
Lincoln is one of the most vulnerable Democrats running this year, and her re-election bid has turned into one of the most nationally-watched races. She already had faced intense criticism from Republicans, especially for her support of a proposed health care overhaul that passed the Senate.
She's also drawn criticism from the left. Halter entered the race after being courted by organizations that oppose Lincoln's stances on health care, union legislation and air pollution regulations.
Halter began airing ads last week for his bid, and Lincoln has television spots airing around the state touting her opposition to some of her party's initiatives on health care and air pollution regulation.
A third Democrat, D.C. Morrison of Little Rock, also has filed to challenge Lincoln in the primary.
Holt is the only candidate among the eight who's run against both Lincoln and Halter. He lost the general election in 2004 and lost the lieutenant governor's race in 2006.
