LITTLE ROCK — The U.S. Senate race in Arkansas kicked off 19 months ago when Vice President Joe Biden visited Little Rock to jump-start U.S. Sen. Blanche Lincoln’s re-election campaign.
Now there are 10 days left until the general election Nov. 2.
Today, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette profiles the four candidates:
Lincoln of Little Rock, a Democrat who is seeking her third six-year term after serving four years as the congressman for 1st District in eastern Arkansas.
John Boozman of Rogers, a Republican and former optometrist who has served as the congressman for the 3rd District in Northwest Arkansas since 2001.
John Gray of the Green Party, the mayor of Greenland and a former engineer and plant manager.
Trevor Drown of Russellville, an independent candidate, UPS worker, and former U.S. soldier in Afghanistan.
Republicans viewed Lincoln as vulnerable, especially after the election of President Barack Obama, who didn’t carry Arkansas in 2008.
Eventually, eight Republicans filed as candidates.
Lincoln survived a union backed Democratic primary challenge by Lt. Gov. Bill Halter, beating him in a runoff.
Boozman won the GOP nomination without a runoff.
Lincoln has described herself as a centrist, considering her options and what’s best for Arkansas before choosing her position. She voted for the federal health-care legislation.
Boozman says he’s for cutting government spending, including projects for Arkansas. He wants to repeal the health-care law and consider eliminating the income tax in favor of a 23 percent federal sales tax.
People started voting early in Arkansas on Monday. Through the first week of early voting, there were 95,499 votes cast, compared with 148,266 during the same period in 2008, according to the secretary of state’s office.
Front Section, Pages 1 on 10/24/2010