By Zack Stovall
Arkansas News Bureau
LITTLE ROCK — Tom Cox, president of the Arkansas Tea Party group that protests government spending, said Monday he plans to run for the U.S. Senate.
Cox, a Republican from Little Rock, told the Arkansas News Bureau he planned to publicly announce his candidacy at a protest rally Monday night in downtown Little Rock in what is believed to be the first candidacy for office to arise from the nationwide Tea Party movement.
Cox said he has been considering running for the nomination to challenge incumbent Democratic U.S. Sen. Blanche Lincoln since the early spring. Lincoln is seeking a third term in 2010.
“There have been a number of people who have spoken with me, called, e-mailed and blogged over the last few weeks. I believe the people of Arkansas will support me,” Cox said.
“Both sides of the fence are tired of the decisions being made with our taxes,” he said, citing the $787 billion economic stimulus package that Congress passed and President Obama signed into law in February. “This should be the time when the government is tightening its belt, not spending our children’s inheritance.”
Cox said he believes the sentiment against those in Washington and the desire for “new blood” is such that “it’s the right time for the right candidate” to run for Senate.
“I have a lot of respect for Blanche Lincoln (but) her recent voting recent record is not in tune with the majority of Arkansans,” Cox said.
He said he has the support to raise between $4 million and $6 million to beat Lincoln.
“I believe that the Tea Party movement is strong in our country and in our state. It’s about listening to ‘We the People,’ to their wants, needs and issues,” he said.
Cox owns Aloha Pontoons, a boat store, in North Little Rock.
State Sen. Kim Hendren, R-Gravette, is the only announced GOP candidate for Lincoln’s seat, though Hendren has not filed paperwork to make his candidacy official.
Little Rock businessman Curtis Coleman has formed a committee to explore a U.S. Senate run and state Sen. Gilbert Baker, R-Conway, is considering a Senate bid.
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On the Net:
http://tomcoxforsenate.com
