Bentsen upset incumbent Ralph Yarborough , a liberal icon , in a bruising primary campaign for the 1970 Texas Democratic Senatorial nomination . The campaign came in the wake of Yarborough 's politically hazardous votes in favor of the landmark Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and his opposition to the Vietnam War . Bentsen made Yarborough 's opposition to the war a major issue . His television advertising featured video images of rioting in the streets at the 1968 Democratic National Convention , implying that Yarborough was associated with the rioters . While this strategy was successful in defeating Yarborough , it caused long-term damage to Bentsen 's relationship with liberals in his party
1968 Democratic National Convention
1968 Democratic National Convention
Lloyd Bentsen