The Tolbert Report

Jim Holt appeared today on KARN News Radio to discuss his race for the U.S. Senate as a Republican. Responding to a question from a caller he said that he is at least considering switching races and running for the Third Congressional District should Rep. John Boozman decide to run for the Senate as he is expected to do on Saturday.

“Have we thought about the Third Congressional Seat? Sure,” replied Holt. “We have had people call up and suggest it and we always try to be open minded and listen. But we feel like right now we are supposed to be staying the course.”

While this statement is certainly not an indication that definite plans are in the works, it certainly leaves open the possibility of a switch. Such a move would have a dramatic impact on both the Senate race and on the Third District Congressional race.

Holt also said that he feels his conservative record will match up against anyone running in the Republican Primary including Rep. Boozman. He boldly predicted that November will see a major sweep for Republicans including winning not only the Senate race but all four Congressional races in Arkansas.

UPDATE - Jason Shepherd, Holt’s Campaign Manager, lets me know that what Holt was saying is that while he is receiving a lot of phone call requesting this and he is listening to them, he is committed to running for Senate. 

When asked if this means he has ruled out a run for Congress in the 3rd Congressional seat, Shepherd replied, “Jim is absolutely not running for Congress.  He is running for Senate.”

UPDATE II – Holt goes even further with his press release (on the jump) hitting hard at Rep. John Boozman for “incremental socialism.”

HOLT REJECTS INCREMENTAL SOCIALISM

CHALLENGES BOOZMAN ON “BIPARTISAN INCREMENTALISM”

ROGERS, Arkansas — Republican candidate for US Senate, Jim Holt, today commented on Congressman Boozman’s expected entry into the US Senate race and affirmed his commitment to winning the seat held by incumbent senator Blanche Lincoln.  Holt mentioned that he is a friend of Congressman Boozman, but said the congressman’s switch to another race would change nothing in terms of the Holt campaign’s objectives.  “If anything,” Holt said, “it empowers and emboldens us even further.”

Holt said that he looked forward to a healthy debate in the coming months.  “John’s my friend, but even if it was my own mother who voted for some of the things that John has voted for, I’d be running,” Holt said lightheartedly.  “But remember, it’s not so much me running against John — he’s decided to run against me,” he added.

Holt stressed the need for voters to look at the records of the candidates. “I’m the only candidate in this race that has a proven record.  Our campaign has worked hard for this moment:  This is the right time, our message has always been the right message, and we have the right record,” he said.

Holt expressed his concern for a recent article that referenced Congressman Boozman’s support for an incremental approach to healthcare reform.   The comments had been made to the Arkansas Democrat Gazette about the healthcare bill being debated in congress:

…Arkansas’ [congressional] members – Democratic and Republican – agree that there could be support for some limited measures. Rep. John Boozman, …said the approach should be incremental and focus on issues that “reform the current system rather than creating a new system.”
“If they took that kind of approach, they could get bipartisan support,” the 3rd District congressman said. “They’d have my support.”

Said Holt, “Now, when you state that you are for a more incremental approach, it’s as if we’re asking whether we’ll head down the road to more government control at 70 miles an hour, or at 30 miles an hour.  Either way, you’re headed to the same place.  I know the American people do not want a way to get there at a little slower pace.  They want to turn this car around and get back on the path to freedom.”

Tags: 2010 Candidates