It's no secret that the Arkansas U.S. Senate race is going to be one of the closest and most watched races next year, especially with the GOP landing their ideal candidate in Congressman Tom Cotton (R. AK), in his bid to unseat incumbent Senator Mark Pryor (D. AR). Hence why Arkansas Democrats are wasting no time going after Cotton:
http://www.thv11.com/...
Arkansas Democrats are welcoming Tom Cotton to the Senate race with a website blasting the freshman Republican lawmaker as "reckless."
The Democratic Party of Arkansas on Monday launched a new site - www.meettomcotton.com - that targets the Republican congressman. Cotton is expected to announce Tuesday that he's running against Democratic U.S. Sen. Mark Pryor next year.
The site criticizes Cotton's votes on issues such as the farm bill, student loans and Hurricane Sandy relief. Cotton is a former management consultant who served in the Army in Iraq and Afghanistan. He was elected in November to represent Arkansas' 4th District. - THV 11, 8/5/13
You can check out the website here:
http://www.meettomcotton.com/
The site is aimed to expose Cotton as the reckless extremist he trull is:
http://www.arkansasbusiness.com/...
"After just seven months on the job, Tom Cotton is quitting on his constituents to pursue his blind ambition for higher office," the site says. "He leaves behind a record that can only be described as reckless and irresponsible."
The site criticizes Cotton's votes against an initial version of the farm bill, a student loan measure approved by the House last week and Hurricane Sandy relief earlier this year. Cotton is a former management consultant who served in the Army in Iraq and Afghanistan. He was elected in November to represent Arkansas' 4th District, which covers the southern and western portions of the state.
"These false attacks may keep Washington liberals like Mark Pryor entertained, but they don't do a single thing to alleviate the job losses brought on by Pryor's votes for Obamacare, the failed stimulus, and new taxes he has burdened Arkansas' economy with," said David Ray, a spokesman for the party. - Arkansas Business, 8/5/13
Conservatives are super-giddy about Cotton's candidacy and there's a few reasons why:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/...
He is popular among both conservative groups who prize ideology and establishment Republicans who worry about electabilty.
All too often for the GOP, it’s been an either/or question. In Indiana last cycle, moderate incumbent Richard Lugar would have cruised to reelection. But conservatives backed his opponent Richard Mourdock, whose controversial comments about rape toward the end of the campaign propelled Democrat Joe Donnelly to an unlikely victory. Republican losses in the past two cycles in Missouri, Delaware, Nevada and Colorado fit the same mold.
“Representative Cotton is a conservative leader and rock star candidate,” said Steven Law, the President of the GOP-aligned group American Crossroads. “Arkansas is now one of the very top pickup opportunities for Republicans this cycle and we are excited to get engaged in the race on behalf of Rep. Tom Cotton.”
Law hails from the wing of the GOP concerned about nominating unelectable candidates. He heads the Conservative Victory Project, an effort that aims to weed out candidates who are not good general election fits.
Conservative groups like the Club For Growth and the Senate Conservatives Fund — which, like Crossroads, matter because they spend money in congressional races — are also expected to get behind Cotton. - Washington Post, 7/31/13
The Arkansas Senate race was covered in the Daily Kos Election section today. They were able to retrieve the AFSCME poll conducted late last month that has Pryor leading Cotton, 43-35:
http://www.arktimes.com/...
The election is a while away but Cotton will make this race tough for Pryor but Pryor sounds like he ready to take on Cotton:
http://www.reuters.com/...
"In seven short months, Tom Cotton's reckless and irresponsible voting record has alienated Arkansas farmers, seniors, students, women, parents and the business community by voting against such measures as the Farm Bill, student loans, the Violence Against Women Act, and trying to cut Social Security and Medicare," Pryor campaign manager Jeff Weaver said. - Reuters, 7/31/13
Pryor may be one of my least favorite Democrats but having Tom Cotton in the U.S. Senate would be a disaster. You can read why here:
http://www.dailykos.com/...
Pryor has at least been pushing for a farm bill and has been attacking Republicans like Cotton for passing a farm bill that gutted food stamps, especially for children. Pryor has also co-sponsored Senator Tom Harkin's (D. IA) amendment objecting to the chained CPI and any other cuts to Social Security and Medicare. So lets keep that in mind when the election is upon us next year. Pryor has been doing well with fundraising and former President Bill Clinton has made stops in his home state to help Pryor. If you'd like to get involved with Pryor's campaign, you can do so here:
http://www.pryorforsenate.com/