US primaries: Voters in anti-Washington mood

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Angry American voters soundly rejected establishment candidates in two state primary elections, reflecting the ever-deepening partisan chasm in US politics. Battered by the worst economic downturn in at least seven decades and disgusted with the perception that Washington politicians dance to the tune of special interests, voters turned on candidates endorsed by President Barack Obama and Sen. Mitch McConnell, the top Senate Republican.
While primary elections serve only to select party candidates for the general election in November, the outcome of Tuesday’s polling foreshadowed an unpredictability that could significantly reshape the United States political landscape.
Voters are in a vibrant anti-incumbent, anti-Washington mood and have lost patience with entrenched politicians seen as out of touch with the public, bailing out wealthy bankers while middle-class Americans struggle to keep their jobs and their homes. In Kentucky, the upstart tea party movement — pressing for lower taxes and smaller government — pushed political novice Rand Paul onto the ballot as the Republican candidate for the Senate, a clear rejection of the wishes of Sen. Mitch McConnell, the top Republican in Washington.
President Barack Obama’s backing — although lukewarm toward the end of the primary campaign — failed to help Sen. Arlen Specter, a five-term incumbent who switched from Republican to Democrat in 2009 in hopes of keeping his Pennsylvania seat.
He was overwhelmed by Congressman Joe Sestak, a retired Navy admiral, who defied party leaders in pursuing the nomination. “This is what democracy looks like,” Mr Sestak yelled at supporters on Tuesday night.
“A win for the people over the establishment, over the status quo, even over Washington, D.C.” In Arkansas, Sen. Blanche Lincoln, a moderate who was first elected in 1998 and is considered among the most vulnerable Senate Democrats this fall, was the top vote-getter.
But she failed to win the majority needed to avoid a costly run-off against Lt. Gov. Bill Halter. He had the backing of labour unions and left-of-centre progressives.
The winner of the June 8 run-off will face Rep. John Boozman, who won the Republican nomination.
Turnout was better than normal for the primaries in Pennsylvania, Arkansas and Kentucky, suggesting deeper voter anxiety about their futures in an economy with such a slow recovery that national unemployment still hovers near 10 per cent.
Five months remain to the November general election, where Mr Obama’s Democrats will struggle to preserve their majorities in both houses of Congress.
With the most seats to defend, Democrats are most vulnerable to the anti-incumbent sentiment.