Bill Halter decided to move from the Governor’s race and into the race

[sinkingfeeling]

We now have a clearer path to the Governor’s Mansion. Mr. Halter’s decision to leave the Governor’s race gives Democrats the opportunity to focus wholly on beating Asa Hutchinson and electing Mike Beebe as the next Governor of Arkansas.

We have four great Democratic candidates already in the race for lieutenant governor. We welcome Mr. Halter and look forward to the positive positions and issues he will bring.

Jason Willett
Chairman
Democratic Party of Arkansas

[Lt. Governor 2B]

1. (Drew) Pritt challenges Halter to stop "plagarizing" campaign plans.

FOR MORE INFORMATION
Contact : Drew Pritt at [e-mail]

Drew Pritt, Democrat for Lieutenant Governor, believes if Bill Halter is
to be an effective candidate for Lt. Governor, he needs to get his own
vision for the state, and stop stealing other candidates ideas.

"Bill Halter is like George Bush in the way Ann Richards classified Bush in
1988," said Pritt. "He's like Columbus discovering America. He's
discovered the Arkansas Challenge Scholarship. He's discovered public
school teacher's deserve a raise. He's discovered the Education Lottery.
He discovered, once the polls said it might be defeated, that the Road
Bond was a bad idea. That is not good enough. Arkansans deserve a
Lieutenant Governor who will not just talk the talk, but fight the fights
and get results. That Lieutenant Governor is Drew Pritt, not Bill Halter."

Pritt said since Halter has entered the race, he has noticed that similar
ideas seemed to be promoted by Halter. However, he really noticed a trend
when he started comparing Halter's "Excellence Plan" and Pritt's "Economic
Plan for Arkansas' Future" as well as Pritt's issues that he has run on
his website since August 2005.

"I need to refer to Bill as my shadow," said Pritt. "Bill Halter for all
his education at Stamford University is mentally bankrupt on ideas about
the future of Arkansas and its needs!"

Pritt cited these examples :

1.) Pritt's website which debuted in September 2005, stated as Lt.
Governor, Pritt would advocate and be working with the next Governor to
allocate $20 million and focuses on the Arkansas Challenge Scholarship.

(http://www.drewpritt.com/Issues_Education.htm)

* Halter in February proposed $25 million and as noted by Halter
spokesperson Bud Jackson, (http://billhalter.com/node/116) - "Bud Jackson,
a spokesman for Halter’s campaign, said that money would be targeted for
the Arkansas Academic Challenge scholarship."

2.) Pritt proposed a College Savings Plan for parents in Arkansas so their
kids can attend college on the same page.

* Halter this past week proposed the same idea.
(http://billhalter.com/node/120)

3.) Pritt proposes raising public school teacher's salaries online in his
issues page.

* Halter proposes the very same things last month.
(http://billhalter.com/node/109)

4.) Pritt actually authored an Education Lottery Proposal.

* When Halter entered the race he talked about an Education Lottery. The
press at that time noted Pritt was the first to propose the idea. Yet
Halter never gave any attribution to Pritt. In fact the first time Pritt
tried to start a dialogue with Halter, Halter said he doesn't take
questions from other candidates. (http://billhalter.com/node/62)

Pritt joked saying, "I guess that means Bill doesn't want to be included
in the upcoming debates with the rest of us!"

5.) Pritt notes he declared his opposition to the now defeated Road Bond
in August 2005. Bill Halter declared his opposition in November.

"In Arkansas we value hard work. In Arkansas, you don't steal or do
somebody else's work, change it around and present it as your own ideas,"
said Pritt. "You acknowledge in the very least the work other people have
done. But thats the difference between Drew Pritt and Bill Halter. Bill
Halter represents D.C.-insider politics while I fight for Arkansas
values!"

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