story by Michael Tilley
mtilley@thecitywire.com
Editor’s note: Story updated with changes throughout.
U.S. Rep. Tom Cotton, the young Republican from Dardanelle, has unseated two-term U.S. Sen. Mark Pryor (D), in a race that was as expensive as it was nasty. Driving the cost and the negative tone of the race was that it was one of a handful of U.S. Senate races national Democrats needed to retain control of the U.S. Senate.
The election was called early in the night by most media outlets with Cotton having 60% of the vote to Pryor’s 35% in early box totals. Cotton, at 37 years of age, will be the youngest member of the U.S. Senate. It was estimated that more than $30 million was spent by the campaigns of both candidates and a wide range of political action groups advertising in Arkansas.
PRYOR, COTTON REACTIONS
Pryor said he called Cotton and congratulated him, and told the crowd at his watch party that Cotton would be in his prayers. In his short but emotional concession speech Pryor said he will miss the work.
“I’ll miss going to work each day working for the good people of Arkansas,” Pryor said during a concession speech that began shortly after 9 p.m.
Cotton addressed a much less subdued crowd.
“I am humbled to serve this state we all call home,” Cotton said in his opening remarks that followed Pryor’s concession speech. “The people of Arkansas tonight have made their choice ... to control our government rather than be controlled by it.”
Cotton said Arkansans “resoundingly” rejected what he said many believe are policies placing the country on the wrong track. He said the race was not about Mark Pryor or Tom Cotton, but about the direction of the country. Cotton said he would work to end or reverse the cynicism many have toward the federal government.
Cotton said he “received a gracious call from Mark Pryor,” with Cotton telling the audience that he thanked Pryor “and his family for their years of wonderful service to this state.”
In an emotional end to his speech, Cotton thanked his “battle buddies” still fighting overseas, his family, his wife and the voters of Arkansas.
RACE HISTORY
The race between the incumbent Pryor and first-term Congressman Cotton was tight for much of the campaign. Recent numbers by The Arkansas Poll and by the Talk Business & Politics-Hendrix College poll had Cotton pulling ahead of Pryor in the final few weeks of the election cycle. The Oct. 20 Talk Business poll had Cotton with an 8.5 point lead (margin of error 2.2%) and the Oct. 30 The Arkansas Poll had Cotton with a 13-point margin (margin of error 3.6%).
Going into election day, Real Clear Politics average of various polls on the race had Cotton with 48.2% support compared to Pryor’s 41.2%.
Former President and former Arkansas Gov. Bill Clinton made several stops around Arkansas – including stops in Fayetteville and Fort Smith – hoping to pull out a victory for not only Pryor but other Arkansas Democrats on the ticket. Both parties talked about their “get out the vote” efforts, but the unpopularity of President Barack Obama and some of his policies – namely, the Affordable Care Act – was cited by many political watchers to be a big influence on voter behavior.
Real Clear Politics noted that Obama’s “awful” job rating among Arkansas’ undecided voters meant Pryor would “have a tough time converting them to his cause.”
Election results suggest that not enough independents were converted.
The tone of the debate was captured in the only live television debate between the two candidates, which was held Oct. 14 in Fayetteville.
Pryor used almost each response and rebuttal to tag Cotton as a tool for “out-of-state billionaires.” Pryor said the billionaires “have bought” a candidate who will cut important social programs like Medicare, Social Security and Food Stamps in order to deliver tax cuts to the billionaires.
“I listen to you and he listens to the billionaires,” Pryor said of Cotton.
Likewise, Cotton used almost each response and rebuttal to tag Pryor as being in lockstep with President Barack Obama, often beginning an answer with “Mark Pryor and Barack Obama … .” Cotton, who announced during the debate that he and his new wife are expecting a baby, said the policies of President Obama are on the Arkansas ballot.
“A vote for Mark Pryor is a vote for Barack Obama,” Cotton said, adding that Pryor is a “rubber stamp for Barack Obama’s weakness” in foreign affairs.
The Republican Party of Arkansas issued this statement early Tuesday night: “By electing Tom Cotton, Arkansans have made their voices heard that they will no longer stand idly by and allow a Senator from this great state to choose Barack Obama and his liberal policies over Arkansas. Tom Cotton will put Arkansas first, and will fight to get our Nation back on track. Starting by sending Senator Harry Reid to the back of the Senate Chamber!”