Notes from the Campaign Trail: Political messaging shifts to Instagram, texting

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.

––––––––––––

CHIEF JUSTICE RACE SEES INSTAGRAM MESSAGING
While direct mail, TV ads and radio spots are still primary tools for reaching voters, the sophistication of political advertising is capitalizing on a variety of social media platforms.

Justice Courtney Goodson, who is running for the Chief Justice seat, and her rival Judge Dan Kemp, are both pretty active on Twitter and Facebook pushing their campaign messages. Goodson has had an outside group, Judicial Crisis Network, dump hundreds of thousands into an effort to defeat her. While TV, a web site and direct mail have been noted by JCN, the group has also taken to Instagram to push sponsored advertising content.

The Instagram message offers little detail, but reads, “Courtney Goodson: A rubber stamp for Obama’s liberal agenda in Arkansas.” You have to click on a “learn more” button to read the arguments, but our source only provided a snapshot of the ad not the hyperlink.

STATE SENATE RACE GROUP TEXTS
In the District 34 State Senate primary between Sen. Jane English, R-North Little Rock, and Rep. Donnie Copeland, R-North Little Rock, Copeland has taken to group texting to raise money and push his campaign message. A group text sent Sunday night read:

“Hey friends, our latest pol for the State Senate shows people are switching to us at a rapid, rapid pace! The Governor endorsed my opponent and today the state Chamber of Commerce is running ads against me, they do polling too and they’re panicking!

Why? Because they know we are on the verge of getting rid of Obamacare Medicaid expansion! We have done polling and if we can raise another 25k, we will have the necessary resources and we will win…

Because of the Governor opposing me, the usual donors are afraid to give to me, you are my only hope.”

The text asks for $100, $500 or $1,000 and is signed by Copeland.

CAMPAIGN FINANCE REPORTS A DAY LATE, A FEW DOLLARS SHORT (MOST LIKELY)
The Feb. 15th deadline for January campaign filing reports will be pushed back a day thanks to the President’s Day holiday, but we may not get great details other than fundraising from many candidates.

In primary races February was the month we saw a rash of campaign expenditures, which means the expenses wouldn’t be recorded on January’s reports. Most likely, we’ll see some fundraising activity on the January reports (although January is a tough month to raise funds), but don’t hold your breath for much on the expenditure front.

Those figures should show up on 10-day pre-election reports, which are due Feb. 23 for primary contestants. The 10-day pre-election report will track the fundraising and expense activity between Feb. 1 and Feb. 20.

Early voting for the March 1 primary also begins on Tuesday, Feb. 16.

BOOZMAN FOR SENATE LAUNCHES NEW TV AD: Incumbent GOP Sen. John Boozman is running a new ad touting his conservative credentials shortly before the March 1 primary. He’s facing Tea Party conservative Curtis Coleman.

The new Boozman ad highlights his 100% rating on right-to-life issues, his “A” rating from the National Rifle Association, and cites an unnamed source as calling him a “defender of liberty.” It also plays up his “trusted physician” biography. You can watch the ad below.

ELDRIDGE COUNTERS ON MILITARY VOTES: Democratic Senate candidate Conner Eldridge, anticipating that he’ll face Sen. John Boozman this fall, had a quick reply to Boozman’s new TV ad. Eldridge said Boozman’s military voting history doesn’t sync up with his claim of being for a “strong military.”

From Eldridge campaign manager Brad Howard:

“Fifteen years in Washington has changed John Boozman into the consummate politician – doing one thing in Washington and saying another here in Arkansas just to win an election. Senator Boozman says he’s fought for a ‘strong military,’ but he voted for the Budget Control Act that allowed sequestration, both of which have slashed much-needed military spending when the threat from ISIS grows stronger every day. Senator Boozman has said sequestration is ‘actually working,’ but the reality is the sequester and Washington’s dysfunction have made us less safe – and so has Senator Boozman’s failed leadership.”

“The full force of the sequester is expected to furlough about 4,000 civilian Department of Defense employees in Arkansas, cut Army base funding in Arkansas by $1.6 million and cut Air Force operations in Arkansas by $1.6 million. Arkansas needs a senator who will stand up and fight for our military, our veterans and jobs in our state. It’s time for a change.”

REP. FRENCH HILL GETS NRA ENDORSEMENT: The highly coveted NRA endorsement was bestowed on Cong. French Hill, R-Little Rock, who is facing Brock Olree in the GOP primary on March 1. If he wins, Hill will square off against Democrat Dianne Curry, a former Little Rock School Board member and Libertarian Chris Hays.

Hill received an “A” rating from the NRA, which the group describes as “exclusively for a pro-gun legislator who has supported the NRA on key votes and issues. In 2015, Congressman Hill proudly co-sponsored legislation to support and protect Second Amendment rights including H.R. 3516, the Social Security Beneficiary 2nd Amendment Rights Protection Act, H.R. 402, the National Right-to-Carry Reciprocity Act and H.R. 986, the Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act.”