Election Central: GOP Kicks It In Higher Gear

An early Election Central update owing to a cascade of notices and press releases from Arkansas Republicans this morning.

GOP LT. GOVERNORS ASSOCIATION PLAYS IN ARKANSAS
The Republican State Leadership Committee, an offshoot of the Republican Lieutenant Governors Association, is launching two radio ads and a digital campaign this week in support of Republican Tim Griffin and in opposition to Democrat John Burkhalter. The statewide buy is reportedly a six-figure booking.

One ad is a positive spot that begins, “Tim Griffin: war veteran, father, husband, community leader, and dirt bike racer.”

The second ad is aimed squarely at Burkhalter. The ad discusses media reports and details of a business lawsuit involving Burkhalter and a former business partner.

The ad concludes, “So why it’s obvious you never want to run a business with John Burkhalter, you really don’t want him running Arkansas.”

Mariah Hatta, Burkhalter’s campaign manager, released this statement in response to the ad.

“These untrue and bizarre allegations have been rejected by an Arkansas judge and jury. Not surprising, Congressman Tim Griffin and his Washington friends have woven a web of distorted mistruths in order to distract from the fact that he knows nothing about operating a legitimate business, creating a job or meeting a payroll,” said Hatta.

“Kent Vestal, the former partner referenced in the radio ad, was convicted of stealing $242,000 from a residential rental company now owned by John Burkhalter. Clear evidence exists that close associates of Mr. Vestal were also involved in various schemes to embezzle funds from the company. A criminal referral has even been made to the North Little Rock Police Department, and two lawsuits have been filed to recover the stolen funds,” she added.

FOURTH DISTRICT POLL
The Republican Party of Arkansas unveiled a new poll claiming Fourth District GOP Congressional candidate Bruce Westerman leads his Democratic rival James Lee Witt 46-39%. The poll, commissioned by the GOP, was conducted by Diamond State Consulting Group the day after a Talk Business & Politics-Hendrix College Poll showed Westerman leading Witt 44-42%. The poll tested 792 voters and has a +/-3.5% margin of error.

In other Fourth District news, the Westerman campaign claims Witt is going “negative with misleading ‘Contrast’ ad.”

“By adopting Dem playbook, Witt chooses ‘to become loyal foot soldier’ of Pelosi/Obama,” a subtitle on the Westerman press release says.

Witt’s ad, which you can view here, talks about his philosophy that he’ll work with “Republicans, Independents and Democrats alike.”

“My opponent and I just see things differently,” Witt says of Westerman. Witt says in the ad he won’t cut Social Security, Medicare or Pell grants.

“To make the implications he has made against Bruce Westerman with regards to Medicare and Social Security, it would require a faulty memory to ignore Mr. Witt’s statement of October 2, where he said he supported parts of the ‘Ryan budget.’ Mr. Witt also willfully ignores his support of Obamacare, which has resulted in over $700 billion in cuts to Medicare,” said campaign manager Kenneth Ryan James.

James says Witt supports “Obamacare and its cuts to Medicare” as well as “amnesty through a special ‘pathway to citizenship.'”

HUCKABEE, HILL AND OTHERS
On Monday, Oct. 27 in Conway, former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee will lead a rally for Second District Congressional nominee French Hill and other Republicans. The event will be at the Kris Allen stage in downtown Conway at 5 p.m.

The “Freedom Rally” will also include Senate hopeful Cong. Tom Cotton, Sen. John Boozman, Lt. Governor nominee Cong. Tim Griffin, and Attorney General nominee Leslie Rutledge.

KATV’s Janelle Lilley has a video recap with some of these stories and several additional ones.