The real problem in much of the country is even having a presentable candidate that espouses progressive views effectively. I will be voting for Blanche Lincon for the Senate because she is much better than John Boozman. She even sponsored effective restrictions on commodities futures and futures trading and tenaciously hung in as long as she could for the strongest bill possible. The candidate for the US House from my distirct, Chad Causey, is a relative unknown, except for being the long time chief of staff for Dem. Marrion Berry. But he is clearly better than his republican opponent.

Lincoln faced a challenge from the Lt. Gov., Bill Halter who was heavily supported by unions and other out of state interests for her opposition to the public option. I was suspicious of Halter for his championing of a state lottery, the beneficial proceeds of which go to college scholarships. A Lincoln's campaign operative called to ask about how I intended to vote in the primaries back just after the Medicare vote. I told them I was very disturbed by her position on the public option but that if she took on the financial industry and was effective I would probably vote for her. She did and I did. Not a cause and effect relationship, but she probably got similar results from other more left leaning constituents.

Be glad if you have genuine progressives that you have the privilege of supporting. The best I can hope for is that some of my moderates might do the right thing on important votes on important issues.  

As the Dutch said while fighting the Spanish: "It is not necessary to have hope in order to persevere."