Author: Michael Cook

Michael Cook

Cook: New Poll Shows Governor’s Race In Dead Heat

Results from a new internal poll obtained by Cook’s Outlook shows Mike Ross and Asa Hutchinson in a dead heat in the race to become Arkansas’s next governor. Q: As…

Cook: Arkansas Democrats Helping ‘Correct The Record’

A new national organization, with two Arkansans in key leading positions, unveiled their new website today to combat various Republican attacks on Democrats. Correct the Record 2016’s mission statement from…

Cook: Can Hillary Clinton Win Arkansas in 2016?

There’s a friendly debate among Arkansas politicos these days: If Hillary Clinton is the Democratic nominee in 2016, will she be able to win our state’s six electoral votes? And…

Cook: Pryor Goes On Offense In Latest Ad

This week Senator Mark Pryor has been on the offensive against his Tea Party Republican opponent, Congressman Tom Cotton. Today, Pryor released a new television ad entitled “Seventy” that goes…

Cook: Bruce Westerman Loses Big Endorsement To Unknown Opponent (UPDATED)

Dark horse Congressional candidate Tommy Moll got a big boost today in his race for the Fourth District Republican nomination when a national right-wing pundit endorsed his candidacy. Erick Erickson,…

Cook: James Lee Witt Enters Fourth District Race For Democratic Nomination

Today former Yell County Judge and FEMA Director James Lee Witt announced his candidacy for the Democratic nomination in the Fourth Congressional District. In a conference call with reporters this…

Cook: President Bill Clinton’s Influence Over Arkansas Politics Still Strong

Exactly 21 years ago yesterday, then-Arkansas Governor Bill Clinton was elected President of the United States. Even though he hasn’t lived here since soon after that historic election, Clinton’s influence…

Cook: Another Damaging Bombshell For Lt. Gov. Mark Darr

An article in today’s Arkansas Democrat-Gazette is another example of how Lt. Governor Mark Darr has become an embarrassing problem for Arkansas Republicans. On the front page, above the fold,…

Cook: Campaign Training Seminar For Women Candidates

A new, non-partisan organization dedicated to getting more women involved in Arkansas politics recently announced its first campaign training seminar. Women Lead Arkansas was founded earlier this year to encourage…

Cook: Asa Likens Arkansas Chamber of Commerce Priority to Obama’s Plan

Last week, Asa Hutchinson dismissed an Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce tax reform priority and referred to targeted tax cuts that bring fairness to the tax code as part of…

Cook: Tom Cotton Says More Senators Like Ted Cruz Needed

In newly obtained video by Cook’s Outlook, Congressman Tom Cotton makes it clear he believes he and Senator Ted Cruz are two peas in the same pod. You can watch…

Cook: Mark Pryor Unveils New TV Ad on Cost of Tom Cotton Shutdown

Today, Senator Mark Pryor’s campaign unveiled a new television entitled “$24 Billion.” In the thirty-second ad, the Pryor campaign ties Tom Cotton to the reckless Republicans who shut down the…

Cook: Fundraising Reports Reveal Asa Hutchinson’s Campaign Faltering

October 15 was the deadline for state and federal candidates to submit their fundraising reports. After reviewing the reports, two unexpected surprises arose, one from a political novice and one…

Cook: The Arkansas GOP’s Limited Bragging Rights

Based on Talk Business’s recent poll, Arkansas Republicans have a few things to brag about. Yet when considering Arkansas’s political climate, Republicans are falling far short of where they should…

Cook: Cotton’s Credibility Questioned Twice By Fact-Checking Organization

Congressman Tom Cotton’s credibility has been called into question twice in the past week by the fact-checking organization Politifact. In two separate rulings, Politifact rated both a public statement from…

Cook: TV Ads In Senate Campaign Have Clear Messages

This week, the candidates for U.S. Senate released television ads directly targeting each other in the first back-and-forth attacks via TV spots of the campaign. Congressman Tom Cotton (R) fired…

Cook: Movie Reviews – “Enough Said” and “Gravity”

On Friday’s FOX16 Good Day Arkansas, I reviewed two wonderful films, “Enough Said” and “Gravity.” You can watch my reviews here. “Enough Said” “Enough Said” stars Julia Louis-Dreyfus and James…

Cook: Tim Griffin Steps In It During Capitol Hill Lockdown

Reports are still coming in on what occurred on Capitol Hill earlier today where gunshots were fired and a female suspect fled from police. It’s still too early to say…

Cook: Tom Cotton’s Big Lies

The benefits of Congressman Tom Cotton’s Harvard education became clear yesterday when he succinctly told two lies in just 140 characters on Twitter. @TomCottonAR – @SenMarkPryor had simple choice: keep…

Cook: Tom Cotton, Tim Griffin and Racially-Tinged Dog Whistles

Read this mid-July quote from Tom Cotton: “Right now we’ve all been in a situation where we stand in the line in Wal-Mart or Brookshires and someone has steak in…