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State Senate race drawing big names Thursday, Jun 5, 2008 By John Lyon Arkansas News Bureau LITTLE ROCK - The race for a state Senate seat in Central Arkansas is taking on a presidential flavor. A day before former Republican presidential contender Mike Huckabee was to headline a fundraiser for Republican Sen. Gilbert Baker, Democrat Joe White announced Wednesday that former President Bill Clinton had given the maximum contribution to White's campaign to unseat Baker. Both are from Conway. White's announcement could be seen as an effort to deflect attention from recent reports that top Democrats have aided fundraising efforts for the Republican incumbent in District 30. Sen. Bob Johnson, D-Bigelow, the incoming Senate president pro tem, and Sen. Jack Critcher, D-Batesville, who currently holds the position, hosted a fundraiser for Baker last year. Tonight, Johnson, Sen. Jerry Taylor, D-Pine Bluff, and former Democratic state Sen. Stanley Russ of Conway are scheduled to be among the co-hosts of a Baker fundraiser featuring Huckabee, the former governor. White's campaign manager, Alex Bissell, denied that Wednesday's announcement was intended to counter reports of Democrats crossing party lines to support Baker. "We're just trying to get the word out that we've got a lot of support," Bissell said. White's campaign reported last month it had raised $210,545 and had $157,025 on hand. Baker's campaign reported it had raised $259,763 and had $195,457 on hand. Clinton gave the maximum contribution of $2,000 to White for both the primary and general elections, Bissell said. Gov. Mike Beebe, U.S. Sen. Mark Pryor, D-Ark., and Land Commissioner Mark Wilcox have all hosted campaign events for White. Bissell declined to say whether he believes Baker is experiencing repercussions from the 2006 gubernatorial race, when the state GOP, then chaired by Baker, contributed $167,500 to a committee that ran ads trying to link Beebe to former state Sen. and convicted felon Nick Wilson. Baker said recently he regrets the contribution and did not know the committee would use the money the way it did. Beebe said Wednesday the ads crossed a line, and he was glad Baker regretted his involvement. "He's said he regretted it. I'd like to see him say he knows it was wrong, but yeah, I'm glad he said it. He shouldn't ever have done it," Beebe said. Beebe downplayed any connection between his history with Baker and the level of Democratic support for White, a Conway businessman. "I think there'll be way more people voting for Joe than voting against Sen. Baker," Beebe said. |
