Darr calls report inaccurate that he’s in U.S. Senate race

Lt. Gov. Mark Darr denied reports in the National Journal Friday that he plans to run for the U.S. Senate and will announce his candidacy in April.

National Journal, a fixture on Capitol Hill for decades, said Darr “faces significant hurdles” if he seeks the Republican nomination. The article, posted on its website Friday, said that “Republican operatives are skeptical that [Darr will] be able to raise enough money to mount a full-fledged campaign.”

The political trade publication said it had spoken with a GOP source familiarwith Darr’s plans who said the lieutenant governor has made up his mind.

Whoever wins the Republican primary will likely face incumbent U.S. Sen. Mark Pryor, a Little Rock Democrat and former state attorney general.

Darr, who was in Northwest Arkansas on Friday afternoon, declined to speak with a reporter Friday.

But spokesman Sarah Beth Lowe said Darr remains undecided. “He’s definitely considering it and he said he’s planning on making a decision in early April,” she said. Later Friday, Darr released a statement through his spokesman that criticized the President Barack Obama’s administration, but it did not address whether he plans to run.

“America is headed in the wrong direction, and we must alter our course,” Darr said in the statement. “President Obama’s assault on our 2nd Amendment rights is just the latest example of an overreaching federal government that must be stopped. I believe that I can assist greatly in being a check and balance to Barack Obama’s liberal policies.

“As Lieutenant Governor, I will give my undivided attention to my duties in the Arkansas Senate until theend of the 89th General Assembly.”

Darr has not established an exploratory committee for Senate or registered as a candidate, according to the Federal Elections Commission.

In an interview Thursday about his 2010 campaign debt, which he reduced from $34,344.93 to $24,194.93 in the last quarter of 2012, Darr said he was still weighing his options and was “happy being lieutenant governorright now.”

“I don’t feel like I have to determine a set time to run for something or not run for something,” Darr said.

Doyle Webb, the chairman of the Republican Party of Arkansas, said he was aware that Darr was considering a Senate race.

“The lieutenant governor would be a great candidate should he decide to run,” Webb said.

Candace Martin, a spokesman for the Democratic Party of Arkansas, said Darr has not accomplished anything as lieutenant governor.

“I just can’t think of anything substantive that he would bring to the people of Arkansas [as a Senatorial candidate],” Martin said.

Darr was elected lieutenant governor in 2010. He is one of two constitutional officers, along with Secretary of State Mark Martin, who have signed the Americans for Tax Reform pledge to oppose all tax increases.

Darr endorsed a sales tax increase that was part of a $1.8 billion ballot-initiative passed by voters in November to build highways and roads.

Northwest Arkansas, Pages 7 on 01/19/2013

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