The Tolbert Report

Glenn Gallas of Hot Springs confirms today that he will announce this week that he will challenge Rep. Mike Ross for Congress in the Arkansas Fourth Congressional District as a Republican. Gallas is the leader of the Garland County Tea Party and past chairman of the Garland County Republican Committee.

“I am very concerned about that direction of the country and feel that we currently are heading down the wrong road,” said Gallas. Gallas planned to run for Garland County Judge but decided to run instead for Congress when he saw that no creditable challenge to Democratic Rep. Mike Ross.

“A blue dog Democrat is just a wolf in sheep’s clothing,” said Gallas who said that instead of Ross sometimes voting conservative, he supports the agenda of Speaker Pelosi and President Obama.

Gallas said he plans to file sometime on Wednesday.

Gilbert Baker is taking his campaign for U.S. Senate to the internet with targeted ad buys on sites such as the Drudge Report.  Targeted internet ads buys are a great way to reach voters especially in a primary.

Am I biased? Absolutely!  Want to target primary voters in Arkansas? Let me know if you are interested in buying some ads to appear on the Tolbert Report.  And in the meantime, click on one of the fine sponsors who already have.

The Pulaski County Tea Party sent out a press release this afternoon saying that they plan to protest Sen. Blanche Lincoln when she files for reelection on Monday. They plan to meet at the State Capitol building around noon. According the Sen. Lincoln, she plans to file around 1:30 that afternoon which will be in the capital rotunda.

This could be interesting.

Rumors have been circulating all week that Bob Porto with the Pulaski County Tea Party was considering challenging Beebe for governor. I caught up with Porto this morning to ask him about this. He said that he is not sure where the rumor started but they are not true.

“As an activist, I am going to continue holding those running accountable but I have no intention of running for governor.” said Porto. He said that he recently attended CPAC in Washington (interview on CNN) and hopes that the state Republican Party will follow the advice of Republican House Minority Leader John Boehner in regard to the Tea Party movement. “Walk among us, listen to us, but do not try to take us over. That would be a mistake.”

Porto told me that he hopes some strong conservative candidates will consider running for governor as he believes this is a real opportunity. Porto plans to carefully watch who decides to run and will be working with his Tea Party group to decide who they will support.

Content partner Roby Brock with Talk Business breaks a bit of news on Jim Keet who told me only days ago that he was considering running for Lieutenant Governor. From Brock…

Keet, a Little Rock restaurateur and former state legislator who has made an unsuccessful run for the U.S. Congress in 1990, tells Talk Business that since he re-entered politics in a possible 2010 Lt. Governor bid, he’s been encouraged by Republican supporters to seek the office of chief executive.

“At first I kind of took that as a compliment, but the more I thought about it, I started thinking there is some merit to that,” said Keet.

He likes the overwhelmingly popular Democratic Gov. Mike Beebe, considers him a friend and thinks on many issues he’s done a good job.

“It isn’t about Mike Beebe,” said Keet. “It’s about the process of bringing a different perspective to the legislative process and the executive branch of the state.

I spoke just minutes ago with another Republican politico who was strongly considering running for office but asked their name not to be mentioned. They said that while nothing is certain yet, Keet entry will likely mean he will not get in and predicts that Keet’s name will be strong enough to clear the primary field.

UPDATE - I spoke with Keet this morning and he confirmed that he is in the process of gearing up for a campaign for governor. He was not completely sure when a final decision and announcement would be forthcoming but said it would obviously be soon with filing beginning next week.

“Frankly, after attending events around the states such as Lincoln Day Dinners and the Palin event and after visiting with friends who encouraged me to run not for lieutenant governor but for governor, I began to look at the importance of having another voice,” said Keet.

You may have noticed a change in some of the callers lately on your favorite conservative talk show. Republican Princella Smith who is running for Congress recently noticed this when she on Arkansas’ KARN talk radio “The Dave Elswick Show.” When they opened up the phones, a flood of callers lined up. Although the message varied some, the main theme was criticism for her not supporting the federal health care bill. This was quite unusual for KARN’s normal very conservative callers.

It appears that this could be part of a larger effort for President Obama’s grassroots organization Organizing for America. The organizaion has begun an effort to encourage members to call in to primary conservative talk show and support Obama’s health care plan. From the website.

“The fate of health reform has been a focus of debate in living rooms and offices, on TV and online — and on talk radio. And since millions of folks turn to talk radio as a trusted source of news and opinions, we need to make sure OFA supporters are calling in with a pro-reform message.”

The website give you a clickable link to listen to a variety of talk shows across the nation, direction on how to call in, and even talking points to read while on the air.

h/t Poltico

Last night Tim Griffin received support from Republican Minority Leader John Boehner, Minority Whip Eric Cantor, and Chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee Pete Sessions, who held a fundraiser for him in Washington. (The Griffin Campaign cleared up confusion on the date.  The original Feb 11 date was cancelled due to the snow.) This news comes on heels of praise from Sarah Palin when she was in Little Rock last week.

“We are honored to be receiving more and more national attention as a result of all the hard work of our campaign in Arkansas,” commented Griffin on his website. “We are especially appreciative for the help of our tireless volunteers. Thank you for making this happen!”

Lest you think this post is yet another proof that this blog is in the tank for Griffin for Congress, you should know that the campaign manager for Griffin’s Republican Primary opponent Scott Wallace actually emailed rather upset that I have not yet posted anything on this. It seems Wallace believes it is some scandal that everyone should know about.

“Were YOU invited?” Wallace asks on his website yesterday. “Tim Griffin may try to present himself as a grassroots candidate, but he has shown his true colors with his secret Washington, DC fundraiser. How can he represent Arkansas values when he is entangling himself in DC interests?”

Funny that Griffin would post the information on his “secret” fundraiser on his website weeks in advance. I also don’t understand why Wallace is trying to make a campaign issue over his opponent’s ability to raise a lot of money and receive support from folks like Sarah Palin. Rep. John Boehner, Rep. Eric Cantor, and Rep. Pete Sessions. It seems to me that in a Republican Primary these are good things.

Wallace also spent the majority of his time yesterday on Dave Elswick’s program on KARN discussing this. I would have been more interested in Wallace explaining why he would make a good Congressman instead of throwing stones at his Republican opponent but it is his campaign to run however he wants.

Also - A quick perusal of the internets and I see Wallace sent out a press release last night on the subject.  I usually get these from politicians running for office but Wallace apparently skipped me and sent it to Max Brantley instead.

KUAR reporter Kelly MacNeil captured the audio of what is likely the best interview of fiscal session with Lieutenant Governor Bill Halter in the hall of the state capitol. If only I had been there with my flip cam.

As previously noted, the Joint Budget Committee discussed an amendment offered by Rep. Keith Ingram (D-West Memphis) that would have cut the Lieutenant Governor’s office staff from four down to one. As a diligent reporter on the capitol beat, MacNeil wanted to know what Halter’s opinion was on the proposed cuts. So she caught up with him leading to this exchange.

Halter: I am literally running to the Senate floor.

MacNeil: Okay, do you have an opinion on the questions about the size of your staff… (interrupted by one of Halter’s staff members)

Halter: We’ve already put out a statement.

MacNeil: Okay, but I am inquiring and just asking you if you have an opinion.

Halter: About…uh…about what? (rather indigent tone) I mean you are asking me…I don’t even know what you are asking me.

MacNeil: Do you think the size of your staff is reasonable?

Halter: Uh..yes, but I would point out to you that the legislature has approved a staff for the Lieutenant Governor from the very beginning of the office. And we don’t have anything to do with other than, the legislature approves the budget. Look we are going up to the floor.

It has been a tough week for Halter.

As expected, former state legislator and Republican candidate for Attorney General Gunner DeLay announced that he will compete in the crowded Republican Primary for the Third Congressional District.

“Congress is spending money like irresponsible teenagers – writing checks they can’t afford to cash. As your Congressman, I will work tirelessly to pass a balanced budget amendment with line item veto power for the president.”  (Full release on the jump.)

Over in the First Congressional District, the Democratic Primary added another name as well as Ben Ponder announced he will run.

“The primary field is a crowded one. There are candidates from all over the district who have chosen to vie for your votes,” said Ponder. ”I am proud to be a part of this field, and I see a large, diverse crowd of candidates as the perfect expression of democracy. There are no front runners, no incumbents, no one who stands apart based on status or position. Instead, there are simply a number of folks who are trying to convince you that they are worthy of your vote.”  (His full speech can be found here.)

(more…)

Content partner Roby Brock has an interesting report on a fundraiser for House Speaker Robbie Wills’ bid for Congress scheduled for March 9 at Cajun’s Wharf, shortly after the fiscal session ends. The host committee is a who’s who of Central Arkansas Democrats including one time rumored candidate Paul Suskie and a host of state representatives including my own State Rep. Barbara Nix.

What is magical about this little affair is how Speaker Wills was able to put the whole thing together during the fiscal session without breaking his pledge not to fundraise. That guy is quite talented.