Roll Call reports that former Lt. Gov. Bill Halter (D) is considering a challenge to Second District Cong. Tim Griffin (R).
The D.C. political report cites an unnamed Democratic source in Little Rock for the rumor. Halter has been the subject of speculation as a Griffin challenger for months after Halter’s competitive Democratic Senate primary challenge to then-incumbent Blanche Lincoln (D).
Halter had a consistent message on core Democratic issues of protecting Medicare and Social Security and he proved to be a powerhouse fundraiser through netroots organization.
Talk Business sources say that Halter fares the best in terms of name recognition among potential Democratic challengers to Griffin in the Second District.
Roll Call gets comment from long-time Halter spokesman Bud Jackson, who gives a pretty ambiguous statement on Halter’s interest or commitment.
Halter spokesman Bud Jackson didn’t deny that Halter might be considering a run, but said he remains focused on other things. "The only thing he is pondering is what he has to do for work and what time he’ll be having dinner with Shanti and his girls," Jackson said in a statement.
He added: "There are better things for political insiders to focus on in August, like when the next barbeque is and who’s bringing the beer."
Halter took on then-Sen. Blanche Lincoln in the 2010 Democratic primary. With the help of national liberal interest groups, he raised more than $4.2 million during his short campaign.
Last year’s challenger State Sen. Joyce Elliott is an unlikely rematch for Griffin. And the third-place finisher in the Democratic primary, David Boling, who was also considered a possible challenger, recently took a job out of state that will remove him from contention for the Democratic nomination.
Talk Business reported in our Friday subscription-based newsletter, The Arkansas Report, that DCCC officials were in Arkansas late last week on a mission to evaluate potential candidates for the First, Second and Fourth Congressional Districts.
The First and Second would be efforts to unseat incumbent Reps. Rick Crawford (R) and Tim Griffin (R). The Fourth District will be an open seat due to Rep. Mike Ross’ (D) announced retirement two weeks ago.
