Jim Holt Senate Announcement Could Be Soon (UPDATE)
Max Brantley is hearing some of the same buzz I am hearing – that a Senate announcement could be coming very soon for Jim Holt who challenged Sen. Blanche Lincoln in 2004. I have a call into Holt, and I am waiting to hear back but a source close to Holt confirms that he is “seriously considering” getting into the Senate race. There is little doubt that Holt candidacy would change the entire complexion of the race and would all but guarantee a Republican Primary runoff, particularly with Holt’s strength in northwest Arkansas.
UPDATE – This afternoon, I spoke with Jason Shepherd who worked on Jim Holt’s 2004 campaign. He said Holt is taking steps to decide whether to run in the 2010 Senate race. Specifically he told me that Holt is lining up the financial support required to run a successful campaign as he realized this was lacking in his previous race. He said that although all the current announced candidates are much better than Sen. Lincoln, he is not completely satisfied with any of them.
As for when we may hear something, he said that he felt Holt would make a final decision within the next two or three weeks.
Tags: 2010 Candidates
November 24th, 2009 at 12:51 pm
Please, God don’t let that numskull run. Amen.
November 24th, 2009 at 1:25 pm
Unfortunately Holt’s popularity in NW could help him win the primary, but be a doomed candidate when he has to run statewide. Last time around his single issue anti-immigration stance may have helped him win NW Arkansas, but sounded racist to me.
November 24th, 2009 at 1:33 pm
Will this guy just not go away!!! He represents all that is wrong with the Arkansas Repubican Party
November 24th, 2009 at 1:35 pm
One more thing if Jim Holt wins the primary Blanche will walk to victory. There are even Republicans who will not vote for him!!
November 24th, 2009 at 2:00 pm
This would guarantee no money coming to help win this seat from outside Arkansas. I like Jim Holt, but this would be really bad.
November 24th, 2009 at 2:18 pm
I support Jim Holt’s right to run for US Senate if he so chooses, thats a right that can not be denied. But I wish he would instead look at another race. There are to many people in the Senate Race now, and with him possibly thinking about it and maybe Stanley Reed, thats just to many. Maybe he should run for Lt. Governor or maybe Governor, or heck even Sec. of State or Attorney General. There are other races open, let him choose one of them and then later who knows what could happen.
November 24th, 2009 at 4:10 pm
I dont like Jim Holt, he edited would turn back the clock if he could. I cannot believe that the same party that has elected Winthrop Rockefeller and Win Paul Rockefeller would also give their nomination to this kind of person. It makes me sick.
November 24th, 2009 at 6:49 pm
“w” I know….who would think that there would be such a thing as democracy in the Republican Party!
November 24th, 2009 at 7:35 pm
Jim Holt is THE man. edited.
He will serve you proud. Just join him in prayer so that $10K in filing fee money is no hurdle. Y’all can do it!
November 24th, 2009 at 9:51 pm
Didn’t Holt run ahead of Asa Hutchinson in 2006 and better than the House candidates in 2004? He’s probably the STRONGEST Republican who could face Lincoln.
November 24th, 2009 at 10:01 pm
I’m looking for a conservative candidate to support in this race. When he ran against Lincoln in 2004, I was all for Jim Holt. To those of you who don’t like Jim Holt as a candidate, can you give me a specific reason you don’t support him (other than the “sounded racist” post)?
Thanks.
November 24th, 2009 at 10:22 pm
If too many more people throw in on the Senate Primary, I might end up being the last registered republican that can run for governor. Trust me, you don’t want that to happen.
November 25th, 2009 at 12:15 am
[...] Tolbert Report (a must-read Arkansas political blog) is reporting that former state senator Jim Holt, the GOP nominee against Lincoln in 2004, is eyeing a rematch. [...]
November 25th, 2009 at 6:38 am
[...] against her,” Josh Kraushaar reports. The Tolbert Report (a must-read Arkansas political blog) is reporting that former state senator Jim Holt, the GOP nominee against Lincoln in 2004, is eyeing a rematch. [...]
November 25th, 2009 at 1:30 pm
Jim Holt would draw a little better precentage than he did the last time against Blanche but still not win. Many republican would not even vote for him. He offends my Christian principls with much of what he says. I could never vote for him. If he wins the primary I will either not vote or vote for a 3rd party candidate. I cant vote for Senator Lincoln but I cant vote for Jim Holt either. We need a candidate who can bring people together not polarize us. Arkansas votes elect moderate candidates over and over, if this party is going to win the senate election we need a candidate who will attract Republicans and Independents. Jim Holt is a modern day version of Jim Johnson and Faubus. Lets move ahead not back. This race is to important for this.
November 25th, 2009 at 1:40 pm
[...] were several interesting reactions to the story yesterday that Jim Holt is getting his ducks in a front before making the final decision on whether to run for Senate. Republican State Representative Davy [...]
November 25th, 2009 at 2:44 pm
“Moderate” is a code word for “liberal.” A “moderate Republican” is a liberal Republican.
November 25th, 2009 at 4:23 pm
A moderate Republican is not a right wing nut. If a moderate is another word for liberal what is an independent? I will remind you that without moderate republicans and independents the Republican party cannot win elections. I will set out this election before I support anyone as right wing as Jim Holt or as out of touch as Jim Hendron. I can support anyone else that is currently in the primary or Stanley Reed for that matter. At this time I proudly plan on voting for State Senator Gilbert Baker in the Republican Primary. If Jim Holt wins the primary it is like a dream come true for Senator Lincoln, why do Republicans shoot themselves in the foot all the time? Can you tell me that.
November 25th, 2009 at 5:12 pm
I have had all of the RINO crap I can handle. You would think that the republicans in AR had the numbers to cull members. Reality – With the exception of the 3rd district, it is more difficult to run and win as a republican in AR – especially on the state wide level. If people weren’t really republican, wouldn’t it make better sense for them to run as democrats? Why would you pick the up hill battle? I want republican candidates that can unite this party – not destroy and alienate it by name calling with the hopes of making it out of the primary.
November 25th, 2009 at 7:33 pm
Jim Hendren isn’t running for anything w.
November 26th, 2009 at 5:49 pm
I mis spoke and I am sorry I was speaking of Kim Hendren.
November 26th, 2009 at 5:50 pm
RobbieRocks! you make to much sense for most of these people so they will not even get what you are trying to say.
November 27th, 2009 at 2:56 am
I have seen no poll testings of Mike Huckabee as a candidate against Blanche Lincoln. Such a candidacy could significantly propel his national profile.
November 30th, 2009 at 12:15 am
For those of you who say you would not vote for Senator Holt if he wins the primary: There are probably as many or more people in Arkansas who say they will not vote for Senator Gilbert Baker as there are who will not vote for Senator Holt. In fact, there is rumor that if Baker wins the primary that an independent will get in the race, and that will split the conservative party and Lincoln will still win. Senator Holt is the candidate that fits the mood of the people (the Tea Parties, indpendents, anti tax groups, etc.) who are fed up with the socialism in our country, including socialist Republicans. Every true conservative that has been at the capital frequently will tell you Baker is a RHINO. He is always meeting with the lobbyists. Go to this website and look at Gilbert Baker’s voting record. http://www.wpaag.org/Gilbert%20Baker%20&%20Holt%20voting%20record.htm
December 3rd, 2009 at 1:01 pm
Gilbert Baker is a turncoat. Look at his voting record. Good grief. His name might as well be Arlen Specter. Do your research people. If you don’t want to be a Republican and stand for Republican principles, then go join the Progressives in taking us communist. At least grow a backbone and come out of the closet. Holt may or may not be the “best” candidate, but he votes his talk and he’s not a Progressive.
December 4th, 2009 at 1:33 pm
[...] may get in the race as early as next week. Holt, who previously ran against Sen. Lincoln in 2004, has made no secret of his desire to run again and has even starting raising money. There are mixed reports on whether [...]
December 7th, 2009 at 4:12 pm
Amazing that Gilbert Baker can serve as party chairman – help restore confidence in the financial stability of the party after previous leadership led the Republican party into $$$ hundreds of thousands in fines and two years later Baker has the party in the black. He can cosponsor Pro-life legislation throughout his State Senate career, He can fight off Mike Beebe and Bill Clinton in his re-election bid for State Senate last year, he can support Tort Reform, illegal immigration, etc. and he is called a “turncoat”!!! Unbelieveable!!! He is a gracious man and genuine Republican who has done more for the party than Jim Holt ever will, and he is facing Holt’s supporters silly accusations about being a true Republican….Amazingly blind and goofy!!
December 9th, 2009 at 12:49 am
This is beautiful, some of you are counting us out before the campaign even starts. The wonderful thing about America is the right of “The People” to select there Representatives. None of you are running are you? If Conservatives are ever going to get control again we have to support CONSERVATIVES. If you can’t support the winner of the primary then maybe you are part of the problem instead of the solution. Think about that.
December 9th, 2009 at 9:21 pm
Lincoln must go, if Holt runs I will support him. Mike Huckabee could be the only one to change the dynamics of this race.
December 10th, 2009 at 4:25 pm
The Republicans under Gilbert Baker leadership refused to give Jim Holt one dime in the two races he ran. He pulled 44% against Lincoln in 2004 and the Republican Party didn’t give Holt one cent and some of the establishment did everything they could against him, even offering him money to switch races. Baker was chair of the Republican Party and did not give Holt a dime of personal money or Party money when he ran against the liberal Halter. The indictment is against the Republican Party leadership. The GOP voters did their part. Holt pulled more votes than Asa Hutchinson who received good treatment from the Party and some good media cover in comparison to Holt who receive mostly negative media. If the Republican establishment would help him this time, God willing he could finish the job he started in 04.