By Kelly MacNeil
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wkno/local-wkno-931767.mp3
Little Rock, AR – This year's marquee political race signals some big shifts for Arkansas. Pundits say it's likely that Republican Congressman John Boozman will topple incumbent U.S. Senator Blanche Lincoln. Kelly MacNeil from KUAR in Little Rock spoke to the candidates by phone as they criss-crossed the state in the last-minute campaign rush.
The big issue in this Senate race, like many races around the country, isn't the sexiest. It isn't foreign wars or education policy or abortion. It's money - what the federal government is spending, and whether or not it should. Listen to the way Lincoln contrasts herself with Boozman on support of Arkansas farmers.
"He's talked some big game about agriculture, but push comes to shove, he's not there voting for disaster assistance or the things that they really need," Lincoln said.
In other words, she's daring Boozman to put the money where his mouth is. Boozman, meanwhile, says those dollars - whether they go to farmers, health clinics, or elsewhere, are often not a good expenditure.
"Senator Lincoln and I just disagree on the basic concept of what's the right approach. Don't believe we can borrow and spend our way into prosperity," Boozman said.
Lincoln says she wants to balance the budget, and helped do so during the Clinton administration. But she's also reminding Arkansas voters that she has a record of bringing home the bacon. She routinely recites lists of local projects that were enabled by federal dollars.
"I think people are appreciative of that. These are dollars that, and projects that have been on the books for a long time, and these are dollars that would've been spent in other states if we hadn't worked hard, and if I hadn't worked with Senator Pryor to get those dollars in here.
But if residents are appreciative, it's not showing up in polls. Lincoln has consistently trailed Boozman by double digits. Boozman says clout of the kind Lincoln has accumulated in Washington is useless unless it's deployed in the right direction.
"The reality is the health care bill is a very, very bad law. The budgets that have been passed have tremendously increased the deficit. And again, those things, regardless, they're still bad bills and the people of Arkansas have rejected it," Boozman said.
Lincoln did vote for the federal stimulus and health care overhaul. But she's tried to distance herself from the Obama administration in the race.
"I think Arkansans are independent-minded. I know I'm independent-minded, probably the most independent voice in Washington right now. And I'm going to challenge the administration or the Democratic caucus or the Republican caucus if they're trying to do something that's not good for Arkansas," Lincoln said.
Lincoln is also trying to turn the focus away from her onto Boozman - his record, and what he may do if he wins the Senate seat.
"It really is about choices. There's big differences in the choices that are there, and these differences matter," Lincoln explains. "My opponent wants to put a 23 percent sales tax on everything you buy." She's referring to the "Fair Tax," which would replace the current income tax. Lincoln says it would hurt the working-class disproportionately. Boozman says it could do away with the IRS, although he won't commit to sponsoring any particular proposal.
"But system we have now is very unfair and very complex," Boozman said.
Boozman was criticized by one columnist recently for adhering too closely to the Republican line, whatever it may be. Boozman says that's not really accurate.
"I've disagreed in a number of different issues," Boozman said.
The most recent poll by the University of Arkansas shows Boozman with a wide lead over Lincoln. Nonetheless, Lincoln insists that things are tightening up, and that she can retain her Senate seat on Tuesday.