Republican Senate candidate John Boozman said Saturday that Arkansas’ GOP is in a good position to make inroads in a traditionally Democratic state, calling Democratic-led initiatives on health care and financial reform “job killers” that hurt the economy.
“We’re at a crossroads. We’re trying to decide which way we’re going,” Boozman told Republicans as they gathered for their annual convention in Little Rock. “Are we going to be like Europe and do the European Socialist-style democracy? Or are we going to go back to our free market principles?”
Boozman, the state’s only Republican congressman, is challenging Democratic Sen. Blanche Lincoln as she seeks a third term. Lincoln chairs the Senate Agriculture Committee and is considered one of the most vulnerable incumbents in Washington seeking re-election.
Boozman didn’t mention Lincoln during his brief address to the convention, instead focusing his criticism on several Obama administration initiatives. He singled out the financial overhaul that President Barack Obama signed into law on Wednesday.
“The bottom line is a small business in particular is going to have a harder time getting credit and that credit is going to be more expensive,” Boozman said.
Polls have shown Boozman leading Lincoln in the Senate race, but he trails the incumbent senator in fundraising. Lincoln has about $1.9 million in the bank for her re-election bid, while Boozman has about $484,000 cash on hand.
The state Republican convention came a week after Democrats criticized Boozman during their annual meeting. Lincoln accused Boozman of running on a “Beat Blanche” platform without telling voters what he would do or what he stands for.
Boozman said he believed the GOP could make gains in this year’s election because of dissatisfaction with the Obama administration. Democrats control three of the four congressional seats, all statewide offices and both chambers of the Legislature.
“We’re poised to make the inroads that the surrounding states have made over the years,” Boozman said.