Notes from the Campaign Trail: New ad, web site in Supreme Court Chief Justice race

Editor’s note: Notes from the Campaign Trail is a compilation of various political insider tidbits and is sponsored by Little Rock-based Capitol Advisors Group.

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NEW AD, WEB SITE IN SUPREME COURT CHIEF JUSTICE RACE
The untraceable money funneling through the Judicial Crisis Network, which is spending hundreds of thousands on TV advertising against Supreme Court Justice Courtney Goodson in her bid for the Chief Justice position, is also spending money on a new web site that has recently appeared.

The web site – GoodsonTheInsider.com – features Justice Goodson under the banner of “Lifestyles of the Rich Insiders.” The site features Goodson winking and holding a glass of bubbly champagne as well the documentation it cites in its TV ad bashing her. A companion direct mail piece also hit mailboxes midweek.

Goodson has called on her opponent Judge Dan Kemp to find “the integrity to stop” the JCN ads. Kemp’s campaign manager says they don’t know who is behind the attack ads and that if Goodson has a problem with the facts of the ad, “she needs to take that up with the Judicial Crisis Network.”

Justice Goodson began airing a new ad on television this week in response to the JCN ad. Calling it “shady and false,” she says, “Powerful interests are trying to buy our Supreme Court, while hiding who they really are.” She closes the ad with a note that she’s been endorsed by the National Rifle Association before saying, “I’ll run the Supreme Court on the truth. That’s a value that should never change.”

You can view the ad here.

RAPID RESPONSE HAS NOT FIELDED A COMPLAINT
You may recall a few weeks ago, a group called the Arkansas Judicial Campaign and Education Committee formed to combat alleged dishonesty in judicial campaigns in Arkansas, with a short-term focus on the Supreme Court races (there are two races this cycle).

The Hon. Annabelle Tuck, retired Arkansas Supreme Court justice, said no business involving the Chief Justice race has come before the board of directors yet. “It has to be started by a complaint from a candidate,” she said. “Nothing has been filed to my knowledge – not so far.”

A five-member rapid response team that acts independently from the AJCEC board is the starting place for the complaints to originate. One of the members of the response team, independent journalist Roy Ockert, tells Talk Business & Politics that he is unaware of any complaints involving the Supreme Court races being filed as of 8 p.m. Wednesday (Feb. 10) evening.

The Goodson campaign says it’s currently exploring its options.

THE CURTIS COLEMAN FACTOR
While polling an anemic 23% among GOP primary voters against incumbent Sen. John Boozman’s 68%, Curtis Coleman may be a factor in the Republican primary. While Coleman is no threat to Boozman according to the latest TB&P-Hendrix College survey, there is consensus among some political observers that Coleman’s candidacy may draw some ultraconservative voters to the polls in tight legislative races.

Three State Senate GOP primaries and a handful of House races feature incumbents or some considered establishment conservatives versus Tea Party conservatives, which are more in Coleman’s wheelhouse. The prevailing theory is that if Coleman’s candidacy turns out 50 or 100 additional supporters in those districts, it could swing a race to one of the underdogs or challengers.

SECRETARY OF STATE MARK MARTIN ENDORSES TED CRUZ
GOP Presidential hopeful Sen. Ted Cruz received his first statewide endorsement in Arkansas. Secretary of State Mark Martin said Cruz is his guy.

“It is time for this country to have a proven, courageous, and consistent conservative in the White House,” Martin said. “I am eager to help continue to coalesce conservatives around this campaign.”

You may recall that current Cruz spokesperson Alice Stewart once worked for Martin as his director of communications. There’s that connection.