Well look who's back. (Photo credit CBS)

Believe me, team, should you ever dare to start up a blog and then take some time away from it, boy howdy, will you ever hear about it.

As a result of my hiatus these last couple of weeks, I’ve received a steady stream of reader e-mails, telephone calls and personal confrontations filled with complaints, insults, nagging and threats. But enough about Arkansas Project Girlfriend….

So maybe we’ll start ramping up again this week, ever so slowly, so as not to hurt ourselves. Let’s start with a) a new photo of that Arkansas chick who won CBS’ “Survivor” a few weeks ago (the “TV Guide” page where I found that photo says it’s her, but if so she looks really different from the earlier shots) and b) some long-delayed updates to our candidate lists. Quite a few changes to the First, Second and Third District congressional races, among others. (Let me know what updates we’re missing on the state legislative races front.)

The good news is that over the next couple of weeks we’ll start to get a much firmer sense of what all of these primary races will look like, since candidate filing starts March 1 and wraps up March 8. Which Senate candidates will wake up and face reality, once they’re faced with actually having to write a check for $12,500? (*cough*Curtis Coleman!*cough*Conrad Reynolds!*ahem*). I can’t wait to find out!

And among the things I missed last week…seriously, a “TWITTERVIEW” with Sen. Blanche Lincoln? My friends, we have now arrived at the absolutely stupidest possible confluence between the worlds of social media and politics. Alas.

Post from: The Arkansas Project

Photo courtesy of Arkansas Project reader Mike, who has a thing for both Boozman and impossibly leggy chicks posing in uncomfortable stances.

After a week-long tease that he was considering getting into the Arkansas GOP Senate primary for a chance to challenge embattled U.S. Sen. Blanche Lincoln, Rep. John Boozman’s getting in, someone who would probably know tells me.

Of course, they’re telling everyone they can find, so it’s hardly exclusive. You might think they’d just issue a press release instead of offering a steady stream of breathless “sources say/you didn’t hear this from me” messages to everyone in the world, one by one, which appears to be the strategy.

As the lone Republican in the state’s Congressional delegation, Boozman will emerge as a strong candidate given his regional strength in Northwest Arkansas, proven fundraising ability, and dear God does anyone even bother reading these pat “impact” analyses at this point when the impacts are mostly obvious—I mean, you’re probably not even reading this sentence anymore, and if you are the question is, why, because it’s not like there’s going to be anything in this graf that you haven’t read before or even thought up yourself, right?

Boozman’s always struck me as a nice fellow but he has the charisma of an elbow. The End.

Oh, no, wait, one more thing: Jim Lindsey! Might run! OK, now really The End.

UPDATE: In a news release issued today, Boozman says to stay tuned till February 6, when he’ll have an “important announcement” about his political future. Golly, I wonder what it could be?

Post from: The Arkansas Project

Rep. John Boozman: What's one more?

Rep. John Boozman, the stalwart lone Republican of the Arkansas Congressional delegation, says he might just get in to the U.S. Senate primary to challenge embattled Sen. Blanche Lincoln, too. I haven’t been this excited since Stanley Reed got in the race!

Oh, and another poll out today, now from the Arkansas News Bureau, shows that Lincoln’s approval is finally rebounding after months and months of sagging approval ratings and grim prognoses for her electoral future. Ha ha! No, I’m just kidding, of course. The numbers are still just absolutely terrible for her.

Post from: The Arkansas Project

Roby Brock’s Talk Business Quarterly is out with the latest numbers on embattled Democratic U.S. Senator Blanche Lincoln, and if you were thinking that Lincoln’s sucky poll numbers had surely bottomed out, well, that just goes to show what you know, because it just keeps getting worse. Fifty-seven percent of Arkansans hold a “strongly unfavorable” or “somewhat unfavorable” view of the state’s senior senator.

Do you think it has anything to do with her support for that reeking turd of a health care bill? No, it couldn’t be that, because that’s just insanely popular, right? Quick, we need someone to explain why that reeking turd of a health care bill is actually a net plus for Democrats, in spite of all evidence to the contrary. Over to you, Blake Rutherford!

And another thing: Am I the only one who finds it strange that TBQ continues to use GOP political strategist Clint Reed to craft these polls, when he’s consulting for the campaign for Republican state Sen. Gilbert Baker — who’s a strong contender to be Lincoln’s challenger in November? Just askin’.

(UPDATE: Roby Brock called to let me know that he typically discloses Reed’s affiliation with the Baker campaign, as well as his Democratic contributor Robert McClarty’s affiliation with that of Attorney General Dustin McDaniel—but that he’d neglected to do so in this case. He has updated his blog post with the disclosures.)

Fuller results over at Talk Business

Do you have a favorable or unfavorable impression of Blanche Lincoln?

15%  Strongly Favorable

19%  Somewhat Favorable (Favorable = 34%)

11%  Somewhat Unfavorable

46%  Strongly Unfavorable (Unfavorable = 57%)

9%    No Opinion

Thinking about the job that Blanche Lincoln is doing as U.S. Senator, would you say you approve or disapprove?

15%  Strongly Approve

23%  Somewhat Approve (Approve = 38%)

7%   Slightly Disapprove

49%  Strongly Disapprove (Disapprove = 56%)

6%   No Opinion

Post from: The Arkansas Project

Rasmussen also shows that Arkansas voters’ enthusiasm for the health care reform proposals coming out of Washington D.C. are tepid. Full report over here if you feel like going to pick over the whole thing in detail, or you can just be like me and look at the headline and move on, because there’s been entirely too many damn polls already and we’ve still got 11 months of this to go.

And it probably doesn’t help matters for Lincoln much when former Democratic presidential hopeful and national committee chair Howard Dean goes on MSNBC and talks up a potential primary challenge to the state’s senior senator. Et tu, Howard?:

Yeah, that probably doesn’t help much.

Post from: The Arkansas Project

Let’s go to Tolbert’s video:

Note the artful use of the passive voice when Reynolds talks about campaign money. It’s going to “flow into this state,” and “they’ll match anything that she’s got.” It absolves him of responsibility for raising money for his own campaign, right? After all, that money is simply going to flow!

This is not to pick on Reynolds, particularly; it’s a common trope among the under-funded and under-performing candidates to argue they don’t need to raise money because “the money will be there.” Well…perhaps. Or perhaps not. Are you sure you wanna stake your campaign on that?

But I don’t want to be overly negative, so let’s make a deal. Here’s the assignment for all these lower-tier candidates in the Republican Senate primary: Let’s set a threshold target of, oh, let’s say $4 million. You go raise $4 million, and you don’t even have to spend it—just park it in the bank.

Then, if your theories about all of this magical money “flowing” into the state turn out to be true, and you didn’t need the $4 million, you can simply return it to the contributors once you’ve won the race, and I’ll admit that I was terribly, terribly wrong. You can even park the money in a CD and maybe hold on to the interest you generate in the meantime.

You’ll have proven your point that money isn’t that important, but without the risk of entering the campaign season lacking the money you’ll need to run a competitive campaign. It would have the added benefit of proving that you CAN raise the money, and that your failures to do so thus far have not been a function of inability or unwillingness to do the basic things that a campaign requires.

Sound like a good deal? I thought so.

Post from: The Arkansas Project

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact : Drew Pritt at drew@prittforarkansas.com

Drew Pritt, a political activist and small business owner, has decided to provide a “progressive” primary challenge to incumbent U.S. Senator Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas.

“The fact remains we are at a historic moment in our country’s history. So it’s very upsetting, when we see a Democratic U.S. Senator who doesn’t support a public option for health care reform. It’s very upsetting when we see a Democratic U.S. Senator who doesn’t support the Employee Free Choice Act. It’s very upsetting when we see a Democratic U.S. Senator who waivers and waffles on basic civil rights. And the only explanation that is given is, she is a Senator from the deep South,” says Pritt. “Well I am a Bible Belt Liberal from Arkansas and I am proud to support EFCA, to support a Public Option for Health Care Reform, and it’s time for the GLBT Community to have someone in the Deep South voting for the Matthew Shephard Act. We need to end Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell….NOW!”

Pritt, who ran an abortive bid for Lt. Governor of Arkansas in 2006, understands the burden that lays before him. He is starting a campaign with very little funding and facing an incumbent who has millions of dollars in her campaign war chest. However, Pritt, who once marched with Doris Haddock for Campaign Finance Reform says money should not be the single determining factor in who is elected U.S. Senator.

“I am concerned when I see a dirth of conservatives running to oppose Senator Lincoln and the only Democrat to have made an effort to challenge her in the primary is a conservative Democrat. I have waited on a good progressive like Ret. General Wesley Clark, U.S. Congressman Vic Snyder, former State Supreme Court Justice Wendell Griffen, or State Senator Joyce Elliott to step forward. I even waited on Lt. Governor Bill Halter to step up to the plate. The fact is, none of these true blue Democrats are running or willing to step up to the plate. Someone has to be the gadfly and thats a badge I wear with honor,” says Pritt.

Pritt says his bid may not be successful, but he says it might, and says that recent political trends suggest that there is an opportunity.

“The Tea Party’s suggest the Democrats are not the only party where people in the party are unhappy with compromise. In upper state New York, a “Conservative” is poised to upset a Republican who veered too far away from the party’s base. Lets not forget in Connecticut, a true blue Democrat defeated Joe Lieberman in the primary. The simple fact is this….if you run as a Democrat in Arkansas, you should vote as a Democrat in Washington, D.C., pure and simple,” says Pritt.

Pritt has earned the moniker of being a gadfly from Max Brantley, editor of the Arkansas Times during and after his bid for Lt. Governor. Pritt says he used to be irked by that term till he realized what a gadfly is and their role in society.

“Gandhi, Mandela, Dr. King, and many more were gadflys. They made a change that was for the better in society,” said Pritt.

He also recognizes that his mere presence in the realm of politics disturbs some people.

“Last time that I ran for Lt. Governor, they started a hate-page so that when you Google my name you get a wiki page filled with a lot of gossip, lies, and hate-filled propaganda. When I ran last time, I had an operative from one of the other primary campaigns admit he leaked negative stories about me. It really surprises me at the ferocity but the way some people who are so scared of change or so disturbed by people who speak out that they use underhanded means to try to knock them down. I am not perfect. I have made mistakes, but the fact remains we need a public option for health care, we need to pass EFCA, and we need to rid ourselves of DADT and other anti-civil rights laws that are in place. I have learned to dodge bullets and take stabs in the back and keep moving forward. I am sure it’s a quality that will serve me well if I ever get to the U.S. Senate,” jokes Pritt.

Pritt may not have won the Lt. Governor’s office in 2006, but he says he made a discernible impact. Though largely outspent by all his Democratic primary opponents, Pritt garnered more earned media than most of his opponents combined. Pritt also broke a barrier in Arkansas by becoming the first member of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Communities to seek statewide office.

In 2009, he started two organizations that benefit the GLBT Community. MsTer Gay America New is a pageant system for women who do the art of male impersonation. Pritt says he saw a huge market for female impersonation (drag queen) but not a lot of equality or opportunity for women. So he started a system for women who take part in that artform. He also started Equality Arkansas which recently garnered some press.

“Equality Arkansas is really an effort by myself to provide a group to help defeat anti-discriminatory measures while at the same time providing a voice for those who are in the GLBT Community who are not as activist but believe our community needs one more voice speaking out against intolerance and injustice,” says Pritt.
Pritt organized with other groups a counter protest to the recent visit to UALR’s campus by the Westboro Baptist Church. But Pritt says that counter protest was more an indication of the growing support for the GLBT Community.

Pritt is an avid sportsman; enjoying hunting and fishing. He also loves Arkansas Razorback sports, American League baseball, is a gourmet cook, and reading. He is a member of the CHI PHI Fraternity, the oldest social fraternity in the country. He currently resides in Little Rock where he is an active member of Epsicopal Diocese of Arkansas. He is a member of the Lions Club, the Arkansas Democratic Party, Stonewall Democrats, the Arkansas Black Democratic Caucus, the Arkansas Hispanic Democratic Caucus, the National Cathedral Association, the National Rifle Association, and Diamond State Rodeo Association.
-0-

Post from: The Arkansas Project

Reed

Do you wake up in the morning and look in the mirror and think, “Hey, I should run for the U.S. Senate!”? If not, you are evidently among the minority of Arkansans.

So go ahead and add former Arkansas Farm Bureau godfather Stanley Reed to the list of Republicans who might, just might, want to challenge embattled Democratic U.S. Senator Blanche Lincoln in 2010. He says he’s weighing the race after earlier saying he would not run, says columnist David Sanders, because Reed now sees Lincoln as being weighed down by the Democratic agenda. Buuuuurn!

Meanwhile, the wearisome “Bill Halter Might Challenge Lincoln in a Primary!” rumor continues to float around.  Look, either get in the damn race or clearly state you won’t run. Sheesh, this guy.

Yeah, I’ve updated The List.

Post from: The Arkansas Project

So who will survive for another quarter, and which of these walking wounded campaigns should we be shuffling off to the deadpool? Here’s what this graph tells us:

• If you’re over on the left side of the graph, your fundraising efforts are showing some vigor, and you should keep doing what you’re doing!
• If you’re grouped in the middle of the pack there (and/or heavily dependent upon personal loans to your own campaign), ehhhh, I don’t know, man, you either need to step it up or start planning a graceful exit. Y’know, like maybe a quiet departure from the race around the holidays, when no one’s really paying that much attention. The first person to proclaim that “This campaign is about the message, not the money” will automatically be shifted to the deadpool. Trust me, because I’ve tried that and it doesn’t work.
• If you’re one of those guys over there on the far right side of the graph, please note that I have so little confidence in your chances that I haven’t even bothered to find your photo to cut your head out. I can’t even muster the energy to make funny pictures of you. Think about that for a little bit.

Here’s the full list of announced/considering/rumored Senate candidates for 2010. I look forward to making it shorter soon, so let’s get moving on some of those aforementioned graceful exits.

Post from: The Arkansas Project

Conrad E. Reynolds

Fun media goof-up story from Roll Call today about one of Arkansas’ many GOP Senate hopefuls and the news director of the NPR outlet at Arkansas State University.

Candidate Conrad E. Reynolds has been making quite a bit of noise lately with a steady stream of news releases and press statements, and news director Greg Chance at ASU’s public radio station has apparently had enough:

Army Col. Conrad Reynolds is one of several Republicans vying to take on Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D) for Arkansas’ Senate seat in 2010. Reynolds’ campaign issued a press release last week blasting Lincoln for a vote, and among those who received it was Greg Chance, the news director of an NPR affiliate based at Arkansas State University. From Roll Call, via Newsbusters:

Army Col. Conrad Reynolds is one of several Republicans vying to take on Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D) for Arkansas’ Senate seat in 2010. Reynolds’ campaign issued a press release last week blasting Lincoln for a vote, and among those who received it was Greg Chance, the news director of an NPR affiliate based at Arkansas State University.

It seems Chance attempted to forward the e-mail to Katie Laning Niebaum, Lincoln’s Washington-based communications director. In his forward, which HOH obtained, Chance mocked the press release and even the campaign’s logo, which features the Army colonel insignia.

“There was another one from this nimrod earlier today which I lost. I just love his logo. That ought to go over really well with the enlisted people. (ha ha),” he writes.

One problem: Chance must have hit the “reply” button instead, because his message went straight to Kenneth Ryan James, the campaign’s spokesman.

Please note the particularly telling detail in the story, which is that Chance evidently thought he was communicating directly with Lincoln’s press secretary. Cozy. (Roll Call is subscription only, so link goes to Newsbusters write-up of the exchange.)

I requested a copy of the e-mail from Reynolds spokesman, K. Ryan James, and a screenshot is posted at the jump. The Reynolds campaign’s full response is available at his site.

While we’re on the Reynolds beat, congrats to the candidate and his wife on the birth of their new son yesterday.

Full e-mail from Greg Chance (click for larger):

Post from: The Arkansas Project