Darr Leaning Toward U.S. Senate Run

“Inside the Beltway” blogger Josh Kraushaar with National Journal posted a story Friday morning saying that Arkansas Lieutenant Governor Mark Darr will run for U.S. Senate in 2014 against Sen. Mark Pryor.  According to Kraushaar 's story, Darr will do this after the state legislative session.

I will note that Kraushaar may be a bit ahead of himself here.  My sources tell me this is not as done a deal as he indicates.  Although Darr is leaning this way and likely is where whatever “GOP source familiar with his plans” got this “scooplet” as Kraushaar referred to it, the decision is not final.

Darr tells me he is focused on the upcoming legislative session right now and is troubled by President Obama's liberal policies and that could influence him to run for a federal office in 2014.

What is becoming clear is that the Senate race is opening up with what appears to be decisions from both Rep. Griffin and now Rep. Womack to stay put in the House.  Both have plumb committee assignments with Griffin on House Ways and Means and Womack on Defense Appropriations.  Side note – these two along with Rep. Crawford's position on Agriculture is a pretty sweet deal for Arkansas.

Of course, the other question is what will Rep. Tom “Mancrush” Cotton do – stay put in the House or make a move to the Senate.

My left leaning colleague Michael Cook weighs in with his thoughts here.