Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Politicos talk about clean sweep by Democrats in November part 1

It's all about fighting back, according to Ron Daniel, chairman of the Arkansas Democratic Party.

Oliver, speaking at the 7th Annual Clinton Day Dinner, said Democratic candidates across Arkansas have been allowing their Republican opponents almost free reign when it comes campaign attacks, but the time has come to fight back.

He spoke of "Team Arkansas", the Democratic slate of candidates running for state office, saying they "look like Arkansas".

"Are you ready to win?" was the opening statement from U.S. Senate candidate Mark Pryor, who followed it up with, "Let's go out and win."

Pryor said the National Republican Party has spent heavily against him in his campaign to unseat incumbent Tim Hutchinson, a member of the GOP.

During August, he said, the GOP has spent $1.5 million in television ads alone  all attack ads.

One of the GOP mail outs, he said, looks like a file and has information claiming to prove Pryor is a liberal, comparing him to Ted Kennedy.

"The Republicans used Ted Kennedy against my father," he said. "They used it against Dale Bumpers and Bill Clinton. It didn't work then and it won't work now.

"The GOP can't figure out this race isn't about Ted Kennedy or anyone else. It's about Hutchinson and Pryor and who will do the best for the people of Arkansas and the U.S."

One of the attack ads, he said, talks about how much he's spent in office. However, Pryor told the audience, "I've returned more than $10 million from my office budget in the last four years. My philosophy is if we don't need it, don't spend it."

The GOP, he continued, is trying to link him with the check cashing industry, claiming he didn't oppose industry bills.

But, Pryor said, he did oppose the bills and has fought to make sure the check cashing industry is now regulated.

Other claims being made, he said, are about how he opposes more military spending. "I made it clear before Sept. 11, 2001, I favored increasing the military budget."

Pryor said the GOP is attacking his patriotism and bringing out the old idea he favors gun control, when the opposite is true. "I believe in the Second Amendment."

Next on the list from the GOP, he said, will be for them to find a "scandal" in the Attorney General's office. "The bottom line is, if the Republicans talked about Hutchinson's record, he'd lose."

Pryor said Hutchinson's record isn't good for the people of Arkansas, as he's voted party line 95 percent of the time.

Hutchinson, he said, is bringing President George W. Bush to Arkansas for the third time to help build his war chest for more television attack ads.

"I'm not worried about the attacks," Pryor said, "they're part of the political landscape. Arkansas comes first, and if elected I'll do everything in my power to put Arkansas first and stand up to special interest groups. I'll make you proud of sending me to the Senate."

Pryor said Hutchinson's record includes votes to cut the school lunch menu budget and raiding the Social Security Trust Fund.

"He's not listening to us, but to them," Pryor said. "He's out of touch and out of time."

Next up was gubernatorial candidate Jimmie Lou Fisher, who's challenging incumbent Mike Huckabee.

"I'm so confident of winning," she said, "I've already asked Dub. Arnold to swear me in in January."

She said no one gave her a snowball's chance in "you know where" when she first announced on April 2, but the gap between her and Huckabee has been closing in the polls.

According to Fisher, a recent poll shows Huckabee with 49 percent and her with 40 percent, leaving 11 percent undecided.

Fisher has been in state office for 24 years, spending two as state auditor, and the other 22 as state treasurer.

During her 22 years as state treasurer, she said, she's earned Arkansas more than $1 billion in interest alone.

"I've worked for four governors, been through 11 legislative sessions and balanced 22 budgets," she said, "and I've got a computer system that works.

"When the session starts in 2003," she continued, "there'll be a team in the executive branch  Team Arkansas'. We have your priorities at heart and know how to listen."

Fisher said the race is about values, priorities and judgement.

"We were raised to do what's right," she said, adding the people of the state were raised to help take care of their neighbors in time of need.

"Education, education, education is a priority needed in state government," she said. " We don't need to squander $52 million on a computer system that doesn't work when teachers aren't being paid an adequate salary, and the legislature has to come in at the 11th hour and bail Huckabee out because he didn't listen, or trust the legislature to the tune of $56 million."