Rep. John Boozman Considering Senate Race (UPDATE – Asa!)
Multiple Arkansas Republican insiders are a buzzing the evening with the news that 3rd District Congressman John Boozman is considering running for the U.S. Senate. Sources tell me that the chances of him running are “more than likely.”
At this point, the news is rumor however this move by Rep. John Boozman would dramatically change the shape of the Republican race. Rep. Boozman is currently the only Republican representing Arkansas in Washington. His entry would bring someone with instant name recognition particularly in the all-important northwest Arkansas for the Republican Primary.
If this pans out - and I believe that it will – then this raises all sorts of questions particularly for the Third District. On the Republican side, the only announced candidate left will be retired Air Force General Bernard Skotch. We are most certainly likely to see more Republicans jump in but who. It is possible that northwest Arkansas Republican Senate candidates Jim Holt, Kim Hendren, and/or Buddy Rogers may switch to the open Congressional. There are also a plethora of current and former state legislators that would certainly take a look at the seat as well. It is likely we would see a similar circumstance currently facing the Democrats in the 2nd Congressional District, as there is a scramble to find a candidate due to the last minute opening.
UPDATE – The Arkansas Democrat Gazette confirms the news as well. Rep. Boozman tells them, “A number of people have asked me to really sit down and look at this race in terms of who would be the strongest candidate and whether that’s something I would consider. I have told them that I would step back and take a look.”
UPDATE II 
- Jim Holt’s Campaign Consultant Rick Shaftan wastes no time taking some early shots at Rep. Boozman. “Will Gilbert Baker jump to the AR-2 race with Rep. TARP Boozman threatening Baker’s Establishment support? He’s got to be thinking about it,” asks Shaftan.
UPDATE III - Roby Brock of Talk Business has a post up with a who’s who 
of Third Congressional District Republicans. The biggest name on the list by far is former Congressman Asa Hutchinson, who is currently out of office and practicing law in Arkansas.
Brock reports that Hutchinson is making calls to gauge support. (UPDATE – Multiple sources are confirming this to be the case.) But two big notes on this. First, if Asa gets in, than the other 23 names on the list will probably not stand a chance in a primary due to Hutchinson’s strong name recognition. Second, the fact that Asa is making calls and considering running solidifies the likelihood that Rep. Boozman will get in the Senate race.
Check Roby’s post for the whole list and if you are a Republican in AR3 you are probably on it. If you have more information, send it my way.
Developing fast…
Tags: 2010 Candidates
January 22nd, 2010 at 12:18 am
Lord Help us.
January 22nd, 2010 at 7:30 am
Please Congressman Boozman stay in the 3rd and don”t make this any uglier than it already is.
January 22nd, 2010 at 10:44 am
Looks like Jim is going to lose his NWA support.
But, then again, I don’t know to may Dixiecrats in Benton County.
With Boozman in, Jim is done. So is Conrad and so is everyone else not named Baker and Coleman.
Why? Boozman will have NWA and Fort Smith on lock.
The biggest question for everyone is who Reta Hamilton will choose now.
January 22nd, 2010 at 2:47 pm
[...] by Adam Butler on January 22, 2010 appears to be eyeing a run for U.S. Senate per conservative political blogger Jason Tolbert and [...]
January 22nd, 2010 at 2:54 pm
The elephant in the room is the poll that came out that has not yet been found by this blog showing Jim Holt included in public polling for the first time for the US Senate Race.
Holt is one of only 2 candidates beating Blanche with a campaign only several weeks old. Gilbert’s up 4 on Blanche and Holt is up 6 on Blanche.
If Boozman can’t win reelection against a guy with no experince/record(something is grossly wrong with John Boozman in this environment), what make’s Hank think he can win with his target rich voting record he established for himself in DC.
His voting record is almost as target rich as either Gilbert’s voting record in Small Rock or his attempt at repackaging himself during this campaign season.
I’d suggest for Congressman Boozman to spend some money on statewide private polling like others have already done.
John,
You are being used as a tool of the “mythical” Establishment”(I forgot ..the establishment doesn’t exist here in Arkansas…Just ask Rep. Dismang) rpa here.
http://politicalwire.com/archives/2010/01/22/lincoln_faces_tight_race.html
anuary 22, 2010
Lincoln Faces Tight Race
A new Mason-Dixon poll in Arkansas finds Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-AR) in tight races with six different Republicans seeking to challenge her in this year’s election.
Gilbert Baker (R) edges Lincoln, 43% to 39%, Jim Holt (R) tops Lincoln, 43% to 37%.
However, Lincoln edges Curtis Coleman (R), 40% to 39%, beats Conrad Reynolds (R), 41% to 38%, tops Kim Hendren (R), 43% to 38%, and is ahead of Tom Cox (R), 41% to 38%.
Said pollster Brad Coker: “The one constant number that runs through that whole group of questions is how Blanche Lincoln is stuck at about 40 percent.”
January 22nd, 2010 at 3:08 pm
[...] Rep. John Boozman Considering Senate Race Multiple Arkansas Republican insiders are a buzzing the evening with the news that 3rd District Congressman John Boozman is considering running for the U.S. Senate. Sources tell me that the chances of him running are “more than likely.” At this point, the news is rumor however this move by Rep. John Boozman would dramatically change the [...] [...]
January 22nd, 2010 at 3:59 pm
The elephant in the room is that John Boozman was not in the poll.
Funny about those elephants, they always seem to do different things when it comes to Jimmie Dixieboy.
I seem to remember the Dixies kept saying Jimmie wasn’t there for the straw poll.
You have no proof Bernie can win this, much less make it close.
Wouldn’t worry about that several weeks old thing either. Dixie’s has significantly higher name recognition than Gilbert and barely edges him vs. Blank.
Jimmie Dixie needs to worry whether he’ll break 20 points in Benton County if Boozman gets in.
January 22nd, 2010 at 5:23 pm
Come on lets try to get East arkansas and win some over Arkansas does not revolve around NWA. And lets remind ourselves who has won or lost in the last 10 years and why
January 26th, 2010 at 10:52 am
Hank(mike),
John would clearly be the rhinoceros(RINO) in the room.
Bob
January 26th, 2010 at 10:57 am
Robert – If you think Rep. Boozman is a RINO, then you clearly do not know what this means. A RINO – “Republican in Name Only” – is a Democrat who run as a Republican because they believe it is easier to get elect with an R.
I thing some people are getting RINO and “true conservative” mixed up. Now I personally believe Rep. Boozman is a solid conservative but only someone who does not know anything about Rep. Boozman would think he is a RINO.
January 26th, 2010 at 1:03 pm
Jason,
I associate conservatism with a voting record consistent with the republican platform or republican principles not just a campaign spouting fically conservative ideals(Gilbert Baker).
When he has strayed off the path on his voting, he has gone astray from the principles of the party or party platform or the US Constitution. He has gone astray on some big votes. So on these votes he voted as a Republican office holder but his vote did not reflect republican principles or constitutional principles. That is problematic and will be if he wants to unite the the r’s, the tp’s, and the drownies and whoever else to defeat Blanche Lincoln. He like Baker is the new choice for the small minority of unsuccessful establishment types here in AR. Thanks Jason for following up.
Bob