Posted on 06/17/2014 8:13:21 AM PDT by Din Maker
Democrats are trying to turn the critical Senate race here into a personality contest, and Republican Tom Cotton knows he’s got a serious problem if they succeed. A barrage of Democratic TV ads depicting him as a heartless ideologue who votes against farmers and seniors hasn’t helped.
For much of the year, Cotton’s opponent, Sen. Mark Pryor, has been seen in many quarters as a dead man walking — a southern Democrat in a state lurching right facing reelection in a year tilted the GOP’s way. But lately polls suggest the race is more like a tossup.
So Cotton’s mandate is clear: Convince voters he’s likable enough so he can fight the campaign on his own terms. Heightening the challenge is the fact that Pryor and his popular father are both natural, back slapping pols, with a combined half-century of practice at retail politics.
“My entire campaign is not just an effort to show warmth, it’s an effort for people to get a sense of me and know who I am — not just know how I vote,” Cotton said.
“Tom is a very structured person — and that’s to his credit and that’s one of the attributes that a lot of people like about him,” said Rep. Steve Womack, a Republican who represents a district in Northwest Arkansas. “But as I kind of look around, I sense that there will be a lot of discussions about the differences between appealing to your base and appealing to a broader constituency that is going to be counted in November.” The lean 6-foot-5 Cotton is quick-witted and polite and has an obvious command of complex policy issues. Yet he lacks the gregarious personality of a Clinton or a Sen. Lindsey Graham, and his straight-laced nature comes across at times.
(Excerpt) Read more at politico.com ...
It is fact that when people meet a politician and he does not come across as “warm” and “caring”, it can hurt him at the ballot box.
Cotton should run an ad inviting Obama to come to Arkansas to campaign for Pryor..
He’s still got time.
‘When Cotton does loosen up — it’s more apt to happen in one-on-one encounters, once he has a chance to engage — he tries to project a down-to-earth image. He smiles — a lot. Sometimes he’ll stop to chitchat for longer than a few moments, but often he doesn’t, moving methodically through crowds like a businessman on a mission.
‘At a packed barbecue joint in Hot Springs, Arkansas, a lunch-time crowd was huddled in their booths eating ribs, pulled pork and chicken. Cotton moved from table to table, shaking hands and taking pictures and holding up a baby. He made light of a signed picture of Pryor hanging on the wall.
‘“Want to take a picture next to this guy?” he jokingly asked a supporter.’
The few Cotton ads I have seen are just not that good.
He needs to hire some professional ad people. He seems to be protraying himself as a hokey down-home boy.
Across the aisle, Pryor ads are attacking his voting record, his stands on major issues, etc.
Guess he will have to start showing up at the black churches like most of the democrats do. It worked for Bill and Hill. And she can even speak the language.
Tom Cotton’s ads use his military record to portray him as a loyal American. One of Pryor’s ads had him holding an open Bible in his lap. I still laugh when I think about that one.
Same thing in North Carolina. I guess having the correct ideology does not trump lack of media savvy and having an inept campaign. At least another two years of Harry Reid, sheesh.
Reminds me of, “I’m not a witch”. Koch better get some astute plotters into Arkansas fast to go after these guys and get Cotton rehabilited, off of defense onto offense.
Oopsie.
“Rehabilitated”
Is this as bad as Christine O’Donnel and “I’m not a witch?”
Personally, I don’t think it’s a good idea to verbally counter the left. The writer’s 1st rule is show don’t tell, same here. Sounds weak to deny.
Also, Pryor is just not that bright and could hurt himself if not carefully scripted.
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