Lincoln's Office, DSCC Deny Report Of Her Being Urged To Retire

Sen. Blanche Lincoln's office (D-AR) is denying reports that the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee is allegedly urging her to retire this year, in the face of poll numbers showing her in a tough race.

"No truth to it," Lincoln spokeswoman Kate Laning Niebaum told The Hill. The DSCC also strongly denied the report, in an interview with TPMDC. "Sen. Blanche Lincoln is running an aggressive campaign in Arkansas, and we have no doubt that she will win," said DSCC National Press Secretary Deirdre Murphy.

This came after the Arkansas Times reported that the DSCC was urging Lincoln to bow out. Such a retirement would hypothetically open the way for a different Democratic candidate, such as fifth-term Rep. Mike Ross or retired Army Gen. Wesley Clark (who has also been rumored as a possible candidate for the House seat of retiring Democratic Rep. Vic Snyer).

Interestingly, this report comes after DSCC chairman Robert Menendez's told TPMDC that the Democrats must do a "forensic examination" of the party's candidates in the wake of the defeat in Massachusetts. Such an analysis alone could potentially lead to all sorts of chatter, whether it's well-founded or not.