Pryor sets March 16 to kick off campaign

Fundraising schedule includes Clinton

— Democratic U.S. Sen. Mark Pryor is kicking off his 2014 re-election campaign with fundraisers in Little Rock on March 16 that include former President Bill Clinton, Pryor’s campaign manager said Tuesday.

Pryor of Little Rock, who ousted then-U.S. Sen. Tim Hutchinson, a Republican, in 2002 and then defeated Green Party candidate Rebekah Kennedy in 2008 in the absence of a GOP opponent, predicted a tough re-election race last April when he said he intended to seek re-election.

Pryor’s campaign manager, Jeff Weaver, said the amount that Pryor’s campaign plan to raise on March 16 is undetermined at this point.

There are three events scheduled that day - a dinner at the Peabody Hotel from 5:30-7 p.m., a private cocktail reception at the Statehouse Convention Center from 7-8 p.m. and an Arkansas Celebration, also at the Statehouse Convention Center from 8-10 p.m., he said. There are different levels of sponsorships ranging from $250 to $2,500 per person, he said.

According to the Federal Election Commission, Pryor reported $1.791 million cash on hand as of Sept. 30 in his last campaign finance report. His report for the quarter that ended Dec. 31 is due Jan. 31.

In addition to Clinton, Weaver said former Democratic U.S. Sens. David Pryor and Dale Bumpers and Democratic Gov. Mike Beebe have confirmed that they will attend on March 16. The four men probably will have speaking roles, but the agenda has yet to be determined, Weaver said. David Pryor is Mark Pryor’s father.

So far, no Republican candidates have announced their bid for Pryor’s U.S. Senate seat in 2014.

Last week, Republican Lt. Gov. Mark Darr of Springdale said through a spokesman that he’s considering running for the U.S. Senate in 2014, but he denied reports in the National Journal that he plans to run for the U.S. Senate and will announce his candidacy in April. Darr also has said he’s considering running for governor or for re-election in 2014.

Republican U.S. Rep. Steve Womack of Rogers “has not made a decision one way or the other on a Senate run in 2014,” said Womack spokesman Claire Burghoff.

“We’re only about three and a half weeks into the 113th Congress. At this point, Congressman Womack is focusing his attention on that and his new subcommittee assignments,” Burghoff said.

Some Republicans have suggested U.S. Rep. Tom Cotton of Dardanelle might run for the U.S. Senate in 2014. A spokesman for the Republican could not be reached for comment early Tuesday evening.

Northwest Arkansas, Pages 9 on 01/23/2013

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