They are seeking the Democratic Party nomination for the November election, and were forced into a runoff when neither received more than 50 percent of the vote in a primary vote last month.

VOA: standard.2010.06.08

Rep. Jimmy Hayes of Louisiana switched from Democrat to Republican in 1995 and then failed to win a runoff primary in the following campaign.

CNN: Party switching comes with political risks

Recent polls show him with a 10-point lead over his opponent in the Republican primary runoff scheduled for April 2.

CNN: Zombie politicians find new life after disgrace

Lincoln, who faces a primary runoff in June, inserted the proposal at the last minute earlier this year, catching many by surprise and unleashing a fury of bank industry lobbying.

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