Research Briefing

Biden Tries To Help Lincoln At An Event In Boston Since The Obama-Lincoln Policies Are Unwelcome In Arkansas 

“Biden Is In Boston For An Event For Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark.).” (Erika Niedowski, “The Week Ahead: Full-Swing Campaign,” The Hill, 9/20/10)

ARKANSANS ARE LOSING JOBS AND LOSING TRUST IN OBAMA’S ECONOMIC POLICIES

Arkansas Has Lost 17,300 Jobs Since The Stimulus Was Passed. (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, www.bls.gov, Accessed 9/21/10)

• Arkansas’ Unemployment Rate Has Risen From 6.8 To 7.5 Percent Since The Stimulus Was Passed. (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, www.bls.gov, Accessed 9/21/10)

 “The State’s Labor Force Decreased By 4,300 In August, A Result Of 6,200 Fewer Employed And 1,900 More Unemployed Arkansans.” (John Lyon, “State Unemployment Rate Inches Up To 7.5 Percent,” The Arkansas News Bureau, 9/21/10)

• “The Biggest Job Loss Was In Educational And Health Services, With 2,300 Jobs Lost, A Majority Of Them In Educational Services.” (John Lyon, “State Unemployment Rate Inches Up To 7.5 Percent,” The Arkansas News Bureau, 9/21/10)

As A Result Of Obama’s Tax Hike, The Average Middle Class Family In Arkansas Will See A Tax Hike Of $1,418.  (“Effect of Expiration of Bush-Era Tax Cuts on Average Middle-Income Family, By State and Congressional District,” Tax Foundation, 8/1/10)

Arkansans Think Economy On Wrong Track, Poll Shows,” “A majority of Arkansans are uneasy about the direction of the nation’s economy and disapprove of the initiatives President Obama has taken to turn things around, results of a new poll show.” (Rob Moritz, “Arkansans Think Economy On Wrong Track, Poll Shows,” The Arkansas News Bureau, 9/18/10)

• “Asked Which Party They Trust To Improve The Nation’s Economy, 45 Percent Said Republican, 32 Percent Said Democrat And 23 Percent Responded Neither Or Did Not Care.” (Rob Moritz, “Arkansans Think Economy On Wrong Track, Poll Shows,” The Arkansas News Bureau, 9/18/10)
• “The Poll Also Found That 50 Percent Feel The President’s Actions To Stabilize The Economy Have Hurt The Economy.”  (Rob Moritz, “Arkansans Think Economy On Wrong Track, Poll Shows,” The Arkansas News Bureau, 9/18/10)

AND THEY’RE REJECTING BLANCHE LINCOLN

FOR HER LOCKSTEP SUPPORT OF THE OBAMA AGENDA

Sen. Lincoln (D-AR) Voted For Obama's $814 Billion Stimulus. (H.R. 1, Roll Call Vote #64: Passed 60-38, R 3-38, D 55-0, I 2-0, 2/10/09, Lincoln Voted Yea)

• Arkansans Don’t Think Obama’s Stimulus Worked. “Coker said jobs are viewed as the barometer for economic improvement and voters don't think the president's $787 billion stimulus package, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, has worked because the unemployment rate continues to hover around 10 percent.” (“Poll: Poll Shows Arkansans Unhappy,” The Times Record, 9/19/10)

In December, Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-AR) Voted For Obama's Government Takeover Of Health Care. (H.R. 3590, Vote #396, On Passage Of The Bill, Passed: 60-39, 12/24/09, Lincoln Voted Yea)

• 64 Percent Of Arkansans Disapprove Of Lincoln’s Vote. “A majority of those polled, 64 percent, also said they opposed U.S. Sen. Blanche Lincoln’s vote in favor of the Senate version of the Health care Reform Bill, and 61 percent said they supported U.S. Rep. John Boozman’s vote against the House version of the bill.” (Rob Moritz, “Poll: Arkansans Remain Unhappy With Health Care Overhaul,” The Arkansas News Bureau, 9/19/10)
• “’They Didn’t Like It Before (Congress) Passed It, They Didn’t Like It When It Passed And They Haven’t Changed Their Mind About (U.S. Sen.) Blanche Lincoln Voting For It,’ Said J. Brad Coker, Managing Partner Of Washington-D.C.-Based Mason-Dixon Polling & Research Inc.” (Rob Moritz, “Poll: Arkansans Remain Unhappy With Health Care Overhaul,” The Arkansas News Bureau, 9/19/10)
• 65 Percent Of Arkansans Think ObamaCare Will Not Improve The Quality Of Care. (Mason-Dixon, 625 LV, MoE4%, 9/12-14)

BIDEN HAS TO HELP LINCOLN IN BOSTON

SINCE NEITHER SHE NOR OBAMA ARE POPULAR IN ARKANSAS

Boozman Is Leading Lincoln By 29 Percentage Points, 56 Percent To 29 Percent. (Talk Business Poll, 573 LV, MoE 4%, 9/16/10)

“Poll: Obama Known, Disliked In State.” “Twenty-four percent of respondents said they had a favorable opinion of Obama, 55 percent said they had an unfavorable opinion and 21 percent were neutral.” (John Lyon, “Poll: Obama Known, Disliked In State,” The Arkansas News Bureau, 9/17/10)

• “‘I Just Don't Think (Poll Respondents) Like What Obama Is Doing, Period,’ Said J. Brad Coker, Managing Editor Of Mason-Dixon Polling & Research Inc.” (“Poll: Poll Shows Arkansans Unhappy,” The Times Record, 9/19/10)

Bill Clinton Went To Arkansas Earlier This Month Because Obama “Couldn’t Help.” “Who's campaigning for Democratic candidates in Arkansas on Wednesday? Former President Bill Clinton, ex-governor of the state. ‘Judging from the polls I've seen on approval ratings, President Obama couldn't help many people in Arkansas,’ Democratic Gov. Mike Beebe told reporters Tuesday. ‘That's about as candid as I know how to be.’"(Andrew DeMillo and Liz Sidoti, “Fewer Democratic Candidates Seeking Obama’s Help,” The Associated Press, 9/8/10)

• Dem Candidate Causey Refused To “Grade” Obama Saying “My Mom Said If You Don't Have Anything Nice To Say, Don't Say It.” “In Arkansas, Causey has tried to distance himself from the Obama administration. When asked at a recent forum to grade the president, Causey quipped, ‘My mom said if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say it.’” (Andrew DeMillo and Liz Sidoti, “Fewer Democratic Candidates Seeking Obama’s Help,” The Associated Press, 9/8/10)