Author: Talk Business

by Talk Business - October 31, 2011 7:00 pm

Fourth District Gains More Candidates – Cowart And Tullis

The only open Congressional district this next election cycle – AR4 – could see a plethora of candidates as two more names emerge that could join the four that have already announced.  One name is a newcomer to politics, while the other is a somewhat familiar face.

Several of my readers told me over the last few days that they noticed signs popping up around the district for "John Cowart for Congress."  So who is John Cowart?

According to his brother who is serving as his campaign manager for the time being, John Cowart is a Lieutenant Colonel in the Marines currently fighting in Afghanistan who is looking to run for Congress as a Republican when he gets home in February.

"He is definitely running," said Jimmy Cowart, who is a member of the Quorum Court in Miller County.  They have formed an exploratory committee and have started raising money although he was not sure of the total they had raised so far.  They went ahead and began putting up signs as a way to get his name out.  They are also working on getting their website up – Cowart4Congress.com.

Cowart has been in the Marines for the past 20 years since the first Gulf War and is also a policeman in Texarkana.  This will be his first run for office.

Another familar name that is thinking about running is former state Rep. Bobby Tullis from Mineral Springs. Tullis was a Democrat when he was a state legislator and ran as a Democrat in 1994 for state auditor losing in the primary to Gus Wingfield.  He ran again in 2010 as the Green Party nominee for state treasurer losing to Democratic incumbent Martha Shoffner.  He was briefly mentioned running for Congress this cycle as a Republican but now says he may instead run in the new Libertarian Party.

Before it is over, Tullis may end up as a candidate in four different political parties.  That has to be a record.

The seat is open as incumbent Democratic Congressman Mike Ross has announced he will not seek re-election next year.  Republicans Tom Cotton, Beth Anne Rankin, and Marcus Richmond have announced their plans to run.  The last financial filing showed Cotton has raised over $343,000, Rankin raised over $176,000, and Richmond raised over $18,000. The only announced Democratic candidate, State Sen. Gene Jeffress, told the AP a month ago he had not yet raised a penny.

by Talk Business - October 30, 2011 7:00 pm

Arkansas Ties In The Herman Cain Harassment Story

If you haven’t heard by now (which is unlikely if you are reading this blog,) Republican Presidential candidate Herman Cain is most certainly the frontrunner as the kitchen sink of oppo research is getting tossed in his direction.  The biggest piece today is a story from Jonathan Martin of Politico who reports on a sexual harassment lawsuit (or lawsuits) in the 1990’s against Herman Cain when he was with the National Restaurant Association.  Cain insists the charges are completely false.

Take your pick for hundreds of websites with more information on this story, but here is a couple of interesting Arkansas ties for my state readers.

For starters, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee defended Cain this morning and attacked Politico reporters on the Laura Ingram show.

"I would almost guarantee that (the story came from another Republican Presidential campaign)," said Huckabee. "Because quite frankly knowing some of the reporters involved, they’re not that good and people who are in campaigns — typically when they have got enough money to do it — they will hire investigators, opposition researchers, they will dig through everything. We had people that went to my kids’ schools when they were in elementary school posing as federal inspectors for the FAA. Bizarre stuff. People go through your trash. I know you hear stuff and think it is not true. I have lived it and I can promise you, it is true."

Bizarre indeed. I asked Martin about Huckabee’s remarks and he said, "I wish the governor and his family all the best."

There is also a Hot Springs Village resident who is suddenly in the middle of the Cain story.  Mary Ose moved to Hot Springs Village after retiring from the National Restaurant Association’s human resource department.  According to Martin, her interviews with him contradict claims Cain made today that an internal investigation cleared him of any wrongdoing.  Ose previously stated that she was unfamilar with any compliants.

It will be interesting to watch this story play out.  Either Politico is sitting on more information that they will slowly release to contradict Cain’s statements, or if the charges turn out to be much ado about nothing, they could end up backfiring on whatever oppo team put this out and actually help Cain.  The next couple of days will be critical.

by Talk Business - October 27, 2011 7:00 pm

Ross To Host Fundraiser For Hall For Congress

As the only remaining Democratic Congressman, many are watching Rep. Mike Ross to see what his involvement will be in the 2012 Congressional elections in Arkansas.  Today, it looks like we got our first glimpse into how involved he might be and who he will support.

An invitation comes my way saying that Congressman Ross – from the Fourth District – will be headlining a $150 a head fundraiser for Rep. Clark Hall’s campaign for Congress for the First District seat at Arkansas oil man Mike Coulson’s home in Little Rock – which is in the the Second District.  Also listed as a special guest with Ross are Arkansas House Speaker Robert Moore, State Sen. David Johnson, and State Rep. John Edwards. The fundraiser will be on Thursday evening, November 10.

It is of note that Ross is getting involved in what could be a potential primary. Northeast Arkansas businessman Steve Rockwell is believed to be considering a run in Democratic Primary against Hall, although he has not officially announced.

It raises the question of what other races Ross will be involved in.  Will he get behind the only announced Democratic candidate, State Sen. Gene Jeffress, in his own district or is he waiting (and hoping) for someone else?  It certainly is noteworthy that his first Arkansas Congressional fundraiser this election cycle is not for someone running in his home district.

UPDATE – "Rep. Hall and Congressman Ross are good friends and they have known each other for years," said a spokesman for Ross when asked if the fundraiser was an official endorsement.  "But Congressman Ross is going to help any Arkansas Democrat who will stand up and fight for Arkansas.  Now, more than ever, we need leaders who will put Arkansas first.  Arkansas Democrats like Rep. Hall will fight to protect Social Security and Medicare, restore fiscal responsibility to our government and work hard to create jobs here in Arkansas, ensuring the next generation is better than our own."