AR Congressional Races 2014

[windjammer]

A) he swatted that away last year, said through a spox recently that his view has changed. B) there's a disclaimer about the intentionally provocative and contrarian- a key part of his profile- nature of his columns. C) McDonnell's thesis didn't hurt in a purple state, etc. Particularly when the local media isn't touching it, as is the case here.

All this said, I don't agree with a youthful opinion he held 15 years ago and no longer holds.

Not sure haha.

[Brittain33]

Do those views sound like they would be toxic in Arkansas? I don't think they would... This is a state with a sky-high divorce rate that pioneered covenant marriage.

[RogueBeaver]

Precisely why Pryor would be foolish to try and cast Cotton as extreme. Not that he has a plethora of options. Brummett agrees: unless Pryor tries going nuclear he's on track to lose.

[windjammer]

Cotton will himself destroy his campaign, don't worry about it, it's a question of time!

[RogueBeaver]

Both men reconfirm that they're gearing up for a long fight, nationalized around their respective voting records.

[RogueBeaver]

Darr will announce tonight, Westerman tomorrow.

[RogueBeaver]

Pryor's ducking his 2004 AWB vote, Cotton won't let him forget it.

[RogueBeaver]

Darr is in.

[RogueBeaver]

Medexpansion - i.e. the "private option" - is becoming an issue in the CD4 race. Darr opposes it but didn't go all out to prevent passage, Westerman helped draft the bill before switching and denouncing its proponents as Judases, with obligatory silver references. There apparently seems to be a major backlash developing from the Pub base, so Darr could use it as a way to wedge Westerman from the right. I still think Westerman has the edge for reasons mentioned earlier in the thread, but you never know. By criticizing both Westerman for his flip-flop and demonization of people who'd been working with him to that point... interesting tactical position for Darr. We'll see if it pays off.

Doubt private option plays that much in the Senate race except as part of the larger Obamacare debate. Cotton has more cover to blast it, especially with the moderate Crawford having done so publicly, but can't because his own political director John Burris was one of its architects. His standard response is to segue back to Obamacare.

[RogueBeaver]

Westerman's in.

[RogueBeaver]

Pryor wouldn't vote for an individual mandate delay.

[RogueBeaver]

Unsurprisingly, the Clintons will campaign for Pryor.

[windjammer]

Yeah!!!!

[RogueBeaver]

Boozman is hoping for a relatively clean race focused on issues. He'll get his wish on issues, definitely not on cleanliness.

[RogueBeaver]

Talk Business will be in the field next month, so we'll finally get some real numbers on the Senate race.

[windjammer]

http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/senate-races/316159-dscc-hits-cotton-on-threatening-shutdown-over-obamacare

[RogueBeaver]

Some Dude entering the Pub CD4 primary.

Another incoherent Pryor interview, this time Politico. Says he disagrees with many of Obama's policies without naming any, again says Obamacare's awesome, says he's passed a lot of bills without naming any. Seems to think Cotton being unwilling to work with a POTUS despised in Arkansas is a bad thing. Also willfully ignorant or simply obtuse about the brand nuking.

[windjammer]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/08/01/tom-cotton-student-loans_n_3692026.html

Yeah Cotton, continue to be totally on the far right on everything!

[Chancellor Tanterterg]

State Representative Jeff Windslaw (might've been Windslow) seems to be considering running, how strong a candidate would he be?

[RogueBeaver]

Assuming that's for the 4th? Probably towards the bottom of what's now becoming a crowded field.

[Chancellor Tanterterg]

Assuming that's for the 4th? Probably towards the bottom of what's now becoming a crowded field.

That's for the fourth, but I'd hardly call the Democratic field crowded

[RogueBeaver]

Darr has some campaign finance problems related to personal expenses, which have already claimed a Dem St. Sen. from Jonesboro. Darr went through personal bankruptcy last year, so there's a history of financial problems on his side.

Senate-wise, Cotton's next Pryority is 2A. Layup target.

[windjammer]

Olol. He will attack him on gun control. I think it could be funny. After, I suppose a strong majority supported background check, and Pryor didn't vote for this proposal. I just want to see Cotton attacking him for being not "pro-gun" enough .

[windjammer]

http://www.slate.com/blogs/weigel/2013/08/27/tom_cotton_newspaper_column_al_sharpton_and_jesse_jackson_are_race_hustling.html

[RogueBeaver]

Darr has dropped out and is seemingly out of politics for now.