Associated Press - March 3, 2010 11:04 AM ET

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) - The Arkansas AFL-CIO says it's backing Lt. Gov. Bill Halter's bid against Sen. Blanche Lincoln in the Democratic primary.

Arkansas AFL-CIO President Alan Hughes says the union's executive board voted to support Halter. The union backed Lincoln in her re-election bid in 2004, but had soured on her because of her positions on health care and key union organizing legislation.

The national AFL-CIO's political committee earlier this week approved a motion in support of Halter, and three unions have pledged $3 million to help his campaign. Halter filed to run for the Senate seat Tuesday.

Hughes says the Arkansas AFL-CIO also voted to back state Democratic Sen. Joyce Elliott's bid for the 2nd congressional district in central Arkansas.

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