Republicans in Arkansas have an early indication of who their party may support to face off against Democrat Blanche Lincoln in next year's U.S. Senate race. The party held a straw poll for the first time to give candidates a chance to speak out on the issues.
An Arkansas state senator says he's ready to send his message from the capitol to D.C. as a U.S. Senator. Saturday, some members of his party gave Senator Gilbert Baker their stamp of approval, but it's only a preliminary indication of how the Republican Party could vote.
"Senator Lincoln has got to go," state Senator Gilbert Baker told a thunderous crowd in Hot Springs.
Gilbert is passionate about his decision to run for the U.S. Senate next year.
"When I realized that we needed somebody that could raise the resources to take the conservative message to Senator Lincoln, that's when we stepped up in August. In September we raised over $500,000 not to fund Gilbert Baker but to fund the conservative message that Arkansans are just calling out for," he said.
Saturday he walked away the early victor garnering 35 % of the vote from state republicans. Six other hopefuls also addressed the crowd before attendees weighed in by secret ballot.
"I did want to hear from every candidate. That was the most important thing,” Brent Meyers of Lowell said.
Organizers say the straw poll benefits both the potential candidates and the voters.
"We thought it was a good way for the candidates to gauge their strength, their organization and for the party to get a view of all the candidates at a similar time under similar circumstances," said party chair Doyle Webb.
Different people with one goal.
"Our goal is to beat Senator Blanche Lincoln," Webb said.
"She's a swing vote on union card check, cap and trade, and government run healthcare. All three of them kill jobs in Arkansas. We've got to promote economic growth in Arkansas," Gilbert added.
It’s why Joe Buhajla drove from Fayetteville to take part.
"Reporter: Was it worth the drive? Buhajla: Absolutely. I'd do it again in a heartbeat,” he said.
A statement from Senator Lincoln’s website referencing healthcare reform says "Republicans will resort to any tactic to preserve the status quo." She's raised more than 4.1 million dollars for her re-election bid.
