In the first debate of the Senate race in Arkansas, Sen Mark Pryor, chairman of the Senate Appropriations subcommittee on agriculture, said opponent first-term Rep Tom Cotton, a Republican, is more interested in foreign policy than domestic needs, says the Associated Press. Cotton, who said U.S. troops should be an option in halting the Islamic State faction, said the health care law nicknamed Obamacare is a disaster. Nearly $34 million has been spent in the race, one of the most expensive in the nation and which could determine control of the Senate, said AP. Pryor and Cotton are scheduled to debate again today.
The Rothenberg/Roll Call rating of the Arkansas race was changed to “Lean Republican” on Monday from the previous “Tossup.” Political analyst Stuart Rothenberg said President Obama’s low popularity rating in Arkansas “is likely to drive the Senate race in the final weeks…we think that the challenger now has a clear advantage.” The political blog Sabato’s Crystal Ball also ranks the race as leaning Republican.
The Kansas City Star said in an editorial that it hopes Greg Orman beats incumbent Republican Pat Roberts for Senate: “A vote for Greg Orman will help Kansas become part of the solution in Washington and get rid of Roberts, an obstacle to progress for Kansas and this country.”