LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) - The latest on former U.S. Attorney Conner Eldridge, who announced Wednesday he was running for the Democratic nomination to unseat Republican U.S. Sen. John Boozman in Arkansas (all times local):
12:30 p.m.
Senate Democratic hopeful Conner Eldridge is calling efforts to repeal the federal health overhaul a “distraction,” and says the focus should be on improving the law.
The former U.S. attorney on Wednesday stopped short of saying whether he would have voted for the health care law when it was approved in 2010. Eldridge earlier Wednesday announced a bid to unseat Republican Sen. John Boozman in Arkansas.
“I think efforts at repeal right now are a distraction,” Eldridge told The Associated Press after announcing his candidacy. “I do think there are flaws in the law, there are problems with the law and I would be focused and will be focused as a senator on correcting and fixing some of the real problems that are in that law.”
Boozman and the rest of the state’s all-GOP congressional delegation have repeatedly called for the law’s repeal. Boozman unseated Democratic Sen. Blanche Lincoln in 2010, in a race that focused primarily on her support of the law.
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12:03 p.m.
Republican U.S. Sen. John Boozman and Democratic challenger Conner Eldridge are avoiding criticizing each other by name as they open the 2016 Arkansas Senate race.
Eldridge didn’t mention Boozman by name in his announcement and declined to say how he’d contrast himself with the Republican incumbent. Boozman, likewise, avoided mentioning Eldridge’s name and instead focused on criticizing President Barack Obama.
“I will continue to fight President Obama’s misguided agenda that includes amnesty for illegal immigrants, a foreign policy that gives Iran the ability to put our nation and allies in harm’s way and mandates that federalize private waters, raise energy costs and stifle economic growth,” Boozman said in a statement. “I am committed to continuing to strongly advocate for Arkansas and I look forward to the campaign next year.”
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11:50 a.m.
Senate Democratic hopeful Conner Eldridge is distancing himself from President Barack Obama on a key foreign policy issue, opposing the Iran nuclear deal backed by the White House.
The former U.S. attorney said Wednesday he opposes the agreement, which aims to curb Iran’s nuclear program in exchange for billions of dollars in relief from international economic sanctions.
“I think the Iran deal is a bad deal for our country,” Eldridge told The Associated Press. “Reaching this deal enables $100 billion or more to go to the largest state sponsor of terrorism. That’s just not a good deal in my opinion.”
Boozman and the other members of the state’s all-GOP congressional delegation have criticized the deal.
Eldridge said he didn’t think the deal’s verification measures are strong enough, and said he doesn’t think the U.S. should negotiate the agreement without discussing Americans imprisoned in Iran.
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10:04 a.m.
Former U.S. Attorney Conner Eldridge has announced his bid to unseat Arkansas Republican U.S. Sen. John Boozman next year.
The Democrat said Wednesday he would run for his party’s Senate nomination, marking the first candidate so far to announce he’s challenging Boozman.
Boozman, a former congressman, was first elected to the Senate in 2010 and announced he was seeking a second term last year.
The 38-year-old Eldridge stepped down as the U.S. attorney for the western district of Arkansas last month, after widespread speculation he was weighing a Senate bid. He was appointed to the post in 2010.
Eldridge faces an uphill fight in Arkansas, where Republicans have swept statewide and federal offices in recent elections by tying Democrats to President Barack Obama.
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