Video: Conrad Reynolds Says This Is a “Cheap Senate Seat”
Conrad Reynolds spoke earlier this month and offered some interesting insight into his campaign strategy. He indicated first that he believed it was not necessary to nominate someone who had raised a lot of money but that Republicans should stay away from anyone who has held elected office.
“This is a cheap Senate seat,” said Reynolds. “You will see more money flow into this state to beat Blanche Lincoln. They will match anything she has got I guarantee you. It will be matched and she will be beaten. Don’t let somebody tell you if you don’t have the money you are not going to win. That is ridiculous. We are only talking about 60,000 votes are going to win this primary election. Don’t worry about it; we are going to beat her; she is going to be gone and we are going to change the course of this country.”
Previously Reynolds told me he believes it will take appropriately $500,000 to $700,000 to win the Republican Primary. Through the end of September, he had raised only $13,265.
As to how Reynolds says he plans to win, he points to the tea party movement. “The people that are going to change this election are those independents, that is those folks going to the tea parties,” pointed out Reynolds. “They are not really associated with any of the political parties. But they’re upset and they’re going to vote. And there is about 17% or 18% of them. And that is going to determine who gets this election. And they do not want somebody who has already held office. And if we elect somebody like that, we are going to lose them; they are not going to go vote. And then Blanche Lincoln benefactors and we can’t allow that.”
Translation – nominate me instead of state Sen. Gilbert Baker.
UPDATE - Someone from Reynolds’ Campaign wanted me to add that Reynolds also put up $30,000 of his own money to bring his FEC total to $43,265 at the end of September. Also, someone from Baker’s Campaign pointed out that Reynolds once worked on Baker re-election campaign so it is “political hypocrisy” to attack him now.
Tags: 2010 Candidates
November 28th, 2009 at 2:34 pm
Where was the attack against Gilbert?
Saying that independents won’t vote for a politician is hardly an attack, just the truth.
Someone doth protest way too much.
Appears that one Conway candidate is more than a little concerned about the other Conway candidate.
November 28th, 2009 at 2:36 pm
Oh yeah, and didn’t Gilbert once tell Conrad he wasn’t going to run, and that Conrad “really wanted the job”?
Seems like I’ve read that here before.
November 28th, 2009 at 5:29 pm
Anyone who says that holding elected office such as a State Senate seat is a reason to not vote for anyone is very out of touch. This is a state wide race and you sould look at what type of candidates Arkansas elects. We must nominate a candidate with some experience and with the ability to raise money. Conrad once worked hard to reelect the same man he runs down so that shows that he either did not mean the glowing things he said about Gilbert then or he doesnt believe the negative things he says now. Gilbert Baker was targeted by Mike Beebe for defeat, he ended up defeating the best funded State Senate Candidate is state history. He can do that with Blanche as well. We need a man of Gilberts upstanding nature in Washington. Conrad is showing himself to be willing to say whatever it takes at the moment. We have enough of that.
November 28th, 2009 at 8:51 pm
So, all those Tea Party activists are apparently out of touch, according to “w”.
Why stop at the ability to raise money? Why not nominate someone who can write their own check?
You forgot one other condition, “w”. Perhaps Conrad changed his mind after witnessing the “political hypocrisy” of Gilbert first hand.
After all, Gilbert was willing to say whatever it took to justify telling Conrad he didn’t want the job before he wanted it.
November 28th, 2009 at 11:23 pm
Conrad is right about money not mattering, but that would be “after” the Republican primary.
November 28th, 2009 at 11:39 pm
I dont think that the tea party folks are out of touch but I dont want to let them be the deciding factor in who our candidate is. Here is why, we must choose a candidate who can win conservitive dems (most people in arkansas are), independents, and moderate republicans as well as the right wing of the party. I am a student of History and Politics. I urge you to look at the history in Arkansas. My point was that Conrad was out of touch if he thinks it is a cheap seat. The Republican Naional Committee will not and should not put money into a race if the candidate cannot raise real amounts of money. They must use their money in races that can be won. As of today Gilbert Baker is the only candidate in the race who can get the financial support of the Republican National Committee. Others my reach that point. Some of these candidates cant seem to raise enough to run for mayor of a 3rd rate city and if they dont do better soon they need to get out. I have known Gilbert for close to 20 years and have never seen andy “political hypocrisy” I think that tea party folks are opposed to anyone who as won office because no one can live up to your expectations. Therefore you need to reevaluate your expectations and work to make the system better. You are good at pointing out the problems so now lets have a good primary and then unite behind the Republican Candidate and take Blanche out.
November 28th, 2009 at 11:43 pm
LittleRock,
If Conrad changed his mind why did he ask Gilbert to introduce him when he announced he was running. That is a weak argument.
I would like for you to tell a few positive things about Conrad and why he is qualified to be U.S. Senator. I am so sick of everyone bashing Gilbert but never telling me what is good about their guy. Make me a deal tell me one good thing about your guy for every bad thing you say about Gilbert. By the way, if Conrad wins the primary I will vote for him. I will not vote for Jim Holt or Kim Hendren.
November 29th, 2009 at 9:14 am
It appears Conrad and his camp (one who has worked for Cox and Coleman) is a bit desperate. What will it take for Conrad to see he doesn’t stand a chance.
November 29th, 2009 at 11:00 am
I didn’t realize the Tea Party had given Conrad their blessing?
November 29th, 2009 at 4:10 pm
The “pre-primary” or “money primary” is a good distilling process. It is clear that the Republican Party has a much larger “farm team” than anyone could have guessed. The results of this Senate primary will be a stronger R candidate. The real test for those who do not win the R nomination will be to protect their own political viability – and to use their experience to run a better race, for a seat he or she is more likely to win, the next time out.
For the Party as a whole, the challenge is not to self-destruct just because we have a primary (hello, Sheffield and Tommy).
November 29th, 2009 at 7:43 pm
Barbara I think that is very well put. The only thing I would ad is that the potential split could be much worse than Sheffield and Tommy. The far right, the right and the moderates have got to find some common ground.
November 30th, 2009 at 10:07 am
[...] machine Jason Tolbert has a good post over at The Tolbert Report touching on Republican Senate hopeful Conrad Reynolds’ plans for financing his 2010 campaign. [...]
November 30th, 2009 at 11:09 am
I really appreciate the opportunity for so many of our comments. It highlights the fact that despite our reputation, Arkansas really does have some very politically savy people. We are not just the state of Clinton or Huckabee, but the state of bright individuals and candidates who have a passion for one of God’s best places to live. What do we know about each of the men that have announced their candidacy. Is it possible to have a bio placed on the Tolbert report for each candidate? I had heard that Conrad Reynolds had not been in Arkansas until he got interested in being a poitician. Can this be true? Did he not feel confident about his abilities to win political offices in Virginia? Please do not misconstrue this as being disrespectful to Mr. Reynolds military service. I am very thankful to his and countless others who have made that sacrifice, however I can think of many military personnel who are certainly not qualified to be a U.S. Senator. Let’s be real. What do we know about the announced candidates? Will we find anything new out at the fund raiser disguised as a “straw poll”? Who has the ability to represent and listen to Arkansans rather than follow a party?
November 30th, 2009 at 11:29 am
rawacr – My understanding is that Reynolds moved home to Arkansas after his military service as this is where he is from originally.
November 30th, 2009 at 6:04 pm
Thanks Jason. However, I thought his military service was over quite some time before he moved back. Is there anything out there to verify this time disparity and what he was doing?
November 30th, 2009 at 9:19 pm
From what I understand he moved here looking for a chance to get into politics. Yes he was from here but he did not feel like he could run in Virgina where his home had been for years. Im not saying that should exclude him from running. Jason could you ask him about this?
December 1st, 2009 at 10:34 am
Col. Reynolds and family moved home to Conway in July 2008, into the house he purchased in 2006 prior to his deployment to Iraq.
The only time he lived in Virginia came in 2007 when he was on assignment with the Defense Intelligence Agency.
He retired from the United States Army in January 2009.
For more information, please take the link to his biography above.
December 1st, 2009 at 11:09 am
KRJ – Thanks. It sounds like in spite of his military service, Reynolds has been in Arkansas more than the incumbant Senator. In my opinion, this is a non-issue. I don’t know how a rational person can object to someone traveling for their military service.
December 1st, 2009 at 1:51 pm
Krj thanks for the info.