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Clarke Tucker's U.S. House Campaign Fundraising Haul Easily Bests Democratic Primary Field

Second Congressional District candidate Clarke Tucker (D).
clarketucker.com

A frontrunner has emerged – at least in financial backing – in the four-person U.S. Second Congressional District Democratic primary. Clarke Tucker’s campaign reported a first quarter fundraising total of over a half-million dollars, ending the period with $440,000 cash on hand. Republican incumbent French Hill has $1.3-million cash on hand. Tucker’s only been running since February 5th.

“Campaigns cost money and this enables us to hire quality people to help and also get our message out to voters,” Tucker told KUAR. “We think voters are going to respond to our message of actually taking care of the people we represent and having loyalty to them instead of special interests in politics. Voters already have responded to it.”

Tucker’s total eclipses the $250,000 raised by Paul Spencer over two quarters. Spencer is the only candidate refusing to accept PAC money. Detailed first quarter campaign contribution reports listing donors have not yet been made public by the Federal Elections Commission.

Gwen Combs hasn’t announced her first quarter totals yet but only raised $14,000 at the close of last year. Jonathan Dunkley began his candidacy in late February and hasn’t yet posted fundraising totals.

Tucker’s campaign noted re-election analysts narrowed Rep. Hill’s odds of re-election following his entrance in the race.

CNN, MSNBC, and other national news outlets have rated the 2nd Congressional District of Arkansas as one of the congressional races to watch in 2018. Immediately following Tucker’s entrance into the race, CNN changed the race ranking away from ‘Safe-R,’ labeling it as a race worth watching.

Jacob Kauffman is a former news anchor and reporter for KUAR.
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