A Big Night for Women

Sen. Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas fended off a Democratic challenge on a primary day that also witnessed Meg Whitman win the Republican nomination for governor in California, while Carly Fiorina grabbed the state's GOP nod for U.S. Senate.

According to the Associated Press, "In one of the night's big surprises, two-term Sen. Blanche Lincoln bucked an anti-incumbent trend and narrowly fended off a challenge by liberal Lt. Gov. Bill Halter for the Democratic Senate nomination. Lincoln, a centrist, was forced into a runoff by Halter after neither captured a majority in last month's primary."

The centrist Lincoln ran afoul of labor for her opposition to the health care public option and the union card check bill. She received support from former president Bill Clinton in her tough race.

In California, according to the AP, "An investment exceeding $70 million of her own money paid off as Republican billionaire Meg Whitman won the Republican nomination for governor. The most expensive primary in California history saw Whitman, former chief executive of eBay, spend more than $81 million total, overwhelming the $25 million spent by her defeated opponent, state Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner."

Whitman, who opposes marriage equality, will face Atty. Gen. Jerry Brown, a former California governor, who won the Democratic nomination for governor.

Fiorina, a former Hewlett Packard CEO who took stances against marriage equality and abortion in the primary, won the GOP senate nomination and will face Sen. Barbara Boxer in the fall.