Election Central Daily Brief: Griffin Rolls Out First TV Ad In LG Race

KATV’s Elicia Dover serves up Wednesday’s Election Central Daily Brief, which includes new polling, a preview of political advertising, and a visit from 2012 GOP Vice-presidential nominee Cong. Paul Ryan.

GRIFFIN’S FIRST AD
Republican Lt. Governor nominee Cong. Tim Griffin aired his first TV ad of the general election. The broadcast ad, which is airing statewide, features Griffin in his hometown of Magnolia. He touts his interest in creating jobs and stopping federal regulatory burdens that he says impede economic development.

Griffin is running against Democratic nominee John Burkhalter.

NEW POLL
A new poll from Suffolk University (Virginia) and USA Today shows Mark Pryor with a two-point lead over challenger Tom Cotton in the U.S. Senate race, and a one-point lead for Asa Hutchinson over Mike Ross in the Governor’s race.

Pryor (D) holds a 45-43% lead over Cotton (R), while Hutchinson (R) leads 42.5-41.5% over Ross (D). The survey tested attitudes among 500 likely November voters and has a margin of error of +/- 4.4%.

The poll also found popular support for raising the state’s minimum wage. 55% favor raising the state’s minimum wage from the current $6.25 per hour to $8.50 by January 2017.

You can access the full poll here.

PAUL RYAN STUMPS FOR ASA
Cong. Paul Ryan, the Republican Vice-presidential nominee in 2012 and House Budget Committee Chairman, was in Arkansas on Wednesday for a fundraiser for GOP gubernatorial candidate Asa Hutchinson. Ryan said he hoped to work with Hutchinson as Governor to “fight poverty.” Ryan has advocated consolidating welfare and assistance programs at the federal level and allowing states to design solutions through a type of block-grant system with more flexibility.