Ark. Democrats look for boost from shutdown

Ark. Democrats look for boost from shutdown
By ANDREW DeMILLO
Associated Press
Posted: 10/26/2013 12:20:41 AM PDT | Updated: about 2 hours ago

LITTLE ROCK, Ark.—Arkansas Democrats have suffered politically in recent years after Republicans tied the party to President Barack Obama in federal, state and even local legislative races. But now Democrats hope standing with the president during the 16-day federal government shutdown could reverse their fortunes.

From a two-term senator accusing his Republican rival of costing the country billions for supporting the budget standoff to a congressional hopeful citing it as his primary reason for running, the shutdown is offering hope to Arkansas Democrats that they may be able to stop a GOP takeover of the state's top offices.

"Sixteen days in October was a travesty," former North Little Rock Mayor Pat Hays told supporters as he launched his bid for a U.S. House seat in central Arkansas. "I wasn't thinking about running for Congress in the latter part of September, because I didn't think they would do what they did. "

Now Hays is running for one of two open U.S. House seats that Democrats have grown more hopeful about winning, one of which opened days after the vote last week to end the shutdown. Republican U.S. Rep. Tim Griffin announced Monday he wouldn't seek re-election next year so he could focus on his family, and Hays was the first candidate to announce he'd run for the seat.

More:
http://www.mercurynews.com/politics-government/ci_24392809/former-spy-chief-gets-eavesdropping-lesson