By Rob Moritz
Arkansas News Bureau
LITTLE ROCK — State Republicans expect a big crowd for a straw poll Saturday as GOP U.S. Senate hopefuls try to separate themselves from the pack.
The event is scheduled as part of the Winter Republican Leadership Summit at the Arlington Hotel in Hot Springs. The party’s state committee also will during the summit.
“We’ve sold over 1,000 tickets to candidates, committees and people, and then our state committee will get theirs as they register, so if everyone shows up that paid $15 for a ticket, we’ll have 1,300 to 1,400 people there,” state GOP Chairman Doyle Webb said today.
Also Saturday, the Democratic Party of Arkansas is holding its fourth and final meeting of 2009 in Little Rock.
All seven of the announced Republican candidates have met the qualifications and are expected to participate in the straw poll, an early test for would-be challengers to Democratic incumbent Blanche Lincoln, who is seeking a third term in the 2010 election.
Former Arkansas Farm Bureau President Stanley Reed, who has said he is considering running as a Republican for Lincoln’s seat, is expected to attend the event but is not scheduled to participate in the straw poll, Webb said.
To participate in the GOP straw poll, candidates had to show they have raised enough money to cover the party’s traditional $10,000 filing fee, filed papers with the Federal Election Commission to make their candidacies official and were required to buy at least one block of 10 $15 tickets.
Republicans participating in the straw poll include state Sen. Gilbert Baker of Conway, Curtis Coleman of Little Rock, Tom Cox of North Little Rock, state Sen. Kim Hendren of Gravette, Fred Ramey of Searcy, Conrad Reynolds of Conway and Buddy Rogers of Rogers.
Webb said the candidates are to begin making their speeches about 12:30 p.m. and that the winner should be announced by 3:45 p.m.
Former GOP Congressman Ed Bethune of Searcy is to speak to the party’s state committee Saturday morning.
The state Democratic Party’s state committee will meet at the Hilton Little Rock Metro Center at 10:30 a.m. Lt. Gov. Bill Halter, State Land Commissioner Mark Wilcox and party chairman Todd Turner will address the meeting.
