LITTLE ROCK — A state House member running for Congress got an endorsement Wednesday from a sitting congressman from Arkansas who is giving up his seat in the U.S. House.
U.S. Rep. Mike Ross, D-Prescott, endorsed state Rep. Clark Hall, D-Marvell, for the 1st District congressional seat on behalf of the conservative congressional Blue Dog Democrats, which Ross co-chairs.
“We need more independent-minded, fiscally responsible leaders like Clark Hall in the U.S. Congress,” Ross said during a conference call announcing the endorsement. “Clark is a fighter, someone who will reach across the aisles. We need more people who will put solutions above party politics.”
The congressman, who announced this summer that he would forego a re-election bid to concentrate on a possible run for governor in 2014, said Blue Dog Democrats were actively recruiting candidates who share the group’s beliefs in fiscal responsibility, government accountability and a strong defense.
He said Hall was among the first candidates the group has endorsed. Hall is seeking the Democratic nomination to challenge freshman incumbent Republican Rick Crawford of Jonesboro. Crawford won the open 1st District seat after former Democratic incumbent Marion Berry chose not to seek re-election. Berry had brain surgery this year.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
Hall, a longtime farmer who authored the legislation that redrew the boundaries of the eastern Arkansas district this year, said he related to the conservative principles of Ross’ group.
Asked how he would be different from Crawford, Hall said there was a “big difference” between writing and talking about issues and Hall’s background in farming and government, an apparent comparison to Crawford’s background as an agriculture broadcaster.
“I have been a citizen-representative, small-town mayor, I understand the issues that really affect the day-to-day lives of our citizens,” Hall said. “I understand what it’s like in the real world to make those tough choices.”
Hall declined to say if he disagreed with votes in Congress that Crawford has made.
“Right now I am focusing on my race, not his,” he said. “When we get into the race later on, we’ll talk about policies and the differences we have.”
Crawford’s campaign had no response to the endorsement of Hall.