LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) –
At home, two-term Republican Sen. John Buzman is known as an unpretentious figure who speaks almost in whispers and feels more comfortable chatting about politics or the football record of the University of Arkansas Razorbex than delivering fiery speeches.
But you wouldn’t know that if you turned on the TV recently.
“John Buzman has always opposed the Weapons Liberals in Washington,” a local sheriff said in a Boozman ad. In another, fellow Republican Sen. Tom Cotton hailed Buzman as “our conservative fighter.” Buzman promises to complete the construction of the wall on the US-Mexico border, which Donald Trump promised.
The sharper tone is Buzman’s effort to tackle an awkward problem as he seeks re-election as a Republican stronghold that Trump won by an overwhelming majority two years ago: Conservative voters are worried that Trump is out of power and that the candidates are Republicans are expected to sound goosebumps about it.
Buzman said the ads do not contradict his modest style and that he simply focuses on the fears he hears from voters.
“These are the things that are in people’s minds, so what we’re trying to do is deal with these problems and help them understand that we’re in the lead to work hard to get something done,” he said. Buzman. “I am not a person who screams and screams. I’m a person who gets to work and gets results. “
But cruelty just doesn’t come naturally to Buzman. His more combative friends come together to help.
“He doesn’t draw attention to himself,” Republican strategist Bill Vickery told the 71-year-old ophthalmologist and former Razorbacks footballer. “He somehow allows his record to speak for itself.”
In Republican-led states, even Republicans with seemingly safe seats are trying to prevent any notion that they are not loyal enough to the former president. Such fears have already prompted Trump to withdraw his support for Mo Brooks in the Alabama Senate race and prompted him to support efforts to oust Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp in the state primary.
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Buzman received the support of Trump along with the support of senior Republicans in Arkansas. This includes Sarah Sanders, the party’s likely candidate for governor, who was Trump’s press secretary. Buzman is also approved by the National Rifle Association and the National Right to Life.
His main rival in the May 24 primary was Jake Beckett, a former NFL and Razorbacks player who served in the military and appeared frequently on Fox News. Beckett’s fundraising has faded compared to Buzman’s, but he is backed by a super-political action committee backed by shipping chief executive Richard Wichline.
“I think in this political environment, the people of Arkansas and the patriots of America are the first in the whole country to want conservative warriors,” Beckett said.
GOP’s other rivals include GOP, Jan Morgan, a former television reporter and conservative activist who frequently appears in the state Capitol to push for bans on vaccine mandates and weaker gun laws.
Both regularly attacked Buzman as RINO – a Republican by name alone – although the current president has voted more than 91% of the time with Trump, according to the FiveThirtyEight website. Buzman voted with President Joe Biden 34% of the time, according to FiveThirtyEight, and his contenders say it’s too common.
One of the main areas of attack is Buzman’s decision not to challenge Biden’s victory in the 2020 election, despite Trump’s lies that the election was stolen. Buzman’s rivals have also criticized the senator for holding “some responsibility” for the January 6 Capitol uprising. Buzman voted to acquit Trump during the impeachment proceedings.
Buzman said he did not believe Trump was directly responsible for the uprising, and called the House of Representatives committee investigating Jan. 6 a “guerrilla charade.” Buzman said he remained loyal to Trump and would support him for president in 2024.
“I know that if he were president now, we would be in a much better position than having President Biden,” Buzman said.
As there are almost no public studies available, there are several indications of problems with Boozman. The incumbent surpasses his rivals and covers the state with commercials, including that of Cotton, a potential candidate for the White House in 2024. Two super PACs supporting Buzman recently began airing television commercials.
Buzman focused on agriculture and veterans during his Senate tenure, topics that do not lend themselves to viral videos or inflammatory speeches, but are crucial in this predominantly rural state. He is on track to chair the powerful Senate Committee on Agriculture, Food and Forestry if the Republican Party wins control of the Senate this fall.
Buzman compared his approach to that of football coaches, who he said influenced him the most at school.
“They were not just shouting and shouting. “They made plans for the game and worked for a common goal to get things done, instead of just shouting about it,” Buzman said.
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