Skip to comments.
Arkansas GOP still lacking a candidate
The Hill ^
| JUNE 24, 2003
| Peter Savodnik
Posted on 06/24/2003 11:31:12 AM PDT by Pubbie
Arkansas Republicans are growing increasingly desperate to find a challenger to take on Democratic Sen. Blanche Lincoln next year.
For months, Little Rock Republicans pinned their hopes on either Gov. Mike Huckabee or Asa Hutchinson, a former congressman and now a Department of Homeland Security undersecretary.
But Hutchinson says hes not running. And Huckabee, whos been embroiled in a series of highly charged budget and education debates at the state Legislature, says he hasnt made up his mind.
So Republicans are turning to a raft of possible second- and third-tier candidates with limited political experience and no statewide elections under their belts.
Marty Ryall, Arkansass Republican Party chairman, declined to name anyone the GOP is looking at except Andy Lee, former sheriff of Benton County, in the conservative northwest corner of the state.
Each day that goes by when we dont have a candidate
is not good, I guess, Ryall said. But he added, Whoever gets in, its not too late.
One critical factor that may be dissuading some Republicans from considering a race is Lincoln, who enjoys considerable popularity and a bulging campaign coffer. The first-term Democrat, a Senate Finance Committee member, won accolades at home for fighting for refundability child tax credits for parents who are too poor to pay taxes in the recent tax debate.
And shes reeled in plenty of money for the race: So far in the second quarter of 2003, Lincoln has raised roughly $550,000, bringing her total cash on hand to $1.6 million, Lincoln spokesman Drew Goesl said.
Goesl added that Lincolns campaign team expects that figure to go up considerably in the closing weeks of June, the end of the second-quarter period for filing reports to the Federal Election Commission.
Republicans thinking about challenging Lincoln also could be waiting for Huckabee to make a move. State Republican officials have said the governor is their first choice.
Ryall added that the governor is unlikely to make an announcement about the race until September, when the Legislature convenes a special session to debate school consolidation.
TOPICS: Activism/Chapters; Announcements; Editorial; Extended News; Free Republic; Front Page News; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: Arkansas
KEYWORDS: 2004; arkansas; asa; asahutchinson; blanchelincoln; huckabee; hutchinson; lincoln; mikehuckabee; senate
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-20, 21-34 next last
1
posted on
06/24/2003 11:31:13 AM PDT
by
Pubbie
To: JohnnyZ; Theodore R.; Nathaniel Fischer; AuH2ORepublican; LdSentinal; Kuksool; Coop; ...
I wouldn't be so sure about Asa Hutchinson not running.
Although he said "he has no plans to run for senate", he also said it would be very hard to say no to the White House if they ask him to run.
2
posted on
06/24/2003 11:32:38 AM PDT
by
Pubbie
(Bill Owens for Prez and Jeb as VP in '08.)
To: Pubbie
Although [Asa Hutchinson] said "he has no plans to run for senate", he also said it would be very hard to say no to the White House if they ask him to run.Jim Edgar said the same thing in Illinois, about a week or two before the White House asked him and he said "No".
3
posted on
06/24/2003 11:41:04 AM PDT
by
RonF
To: Pubbie
Is there a GOP female official in Arkansas who recently had triplets?
4
posted on
06/24/2003 11:42:39 AM PDT
by
ken5050
To: RonF
Jim Edgar said the same thing in Illinois, about a week or two before the White House asked him and he said "No". Jim Edgar was (is) on an ego trip. He would have said yes if his list of demands was met.
5
posted on
06/24/2003 11:52:36 AM PDT
by
JohnnyZ
(I barbeque with Sweet Baby Ray's)
To: Pubbie
Besides folk hero Sheriff Andy Lee, Gunner DeLay is also waiting for Huckabee to make up his mind.
6
posted on
06/24/2003 11:53:49 AM PDT
by
JohnnyZ
(I barbeque with Sweet Baby Ray's)
To: RonF
"Jim Edgar said the same thing in Illinois"
Actually he said he would think about it. THere were media reports that he was going to run, but Edgar himself never gave as strong an indication as Asa Hutchinson did.
7
posted on
06/24/2003 11:54:15 AM PDT
by
Pubbie
(Bill Owens for Prez and Jeb as VP in '08.)
To: JohnnyZ
What was his list of demands? And where were they documented?
8
posted on
06/24/2003 11:54:25 AM PDT
by
RonF
To: ken5050
nope
9
posted on
06/24/2003 11:57:18 AM PDT
by
Pubbie
(Bill Owens for Prez and Jeb as VP in '08.)
To: JohnnyZ
"Sheriff Andy Lee, Gunner DeLay is also waiting for Huckabee to make up his mind."
Huckabee is a jerk. Hutchinson is probably also waiting for the Govna to make up his damn mind!
10
posted on
06/24/2003 11:58:44 AM PDT
by
Pubbie
(Bill Owens for Prez and Jeb as VP in '08.)
To: Pubbie
Well, boys..start trying....there's time to impregnate a candidate...
11
posted on
06/24/2003 11:58:48 AM PDT
by
ken5050
To: RonF
What was his list of demands? And where were they documented? He wanted something like $3 mil from the NRSC, preferential seating on multiple key senate committees, and some other things. Frist rejected the demands; he wasn't about to give that kind of special treatment and piss off every other senator to get some RINO into the senate. The demands were either the subject or quoted on a FR thread, not sure where.
Here we go: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/911086/posts, without much comment.
12
posted on
06/24/2003 12:10:15 PM PDT
by
JohnnyZ
(I barbeque with Sweet Baby Ray's)
To: JohnnyZ
Interesting. I can see asking for the money; why should he impoverish himself? And that way he doesn't get hung out to dry if things go badly. But the post-election committee demands are something else.
13
posted on
06/24/2003 12:13:09 PM PDT
by
RonF
To: JohnnyZ
How reliable is the American Spectator?
14
posted on
06/24/2003 12:13:45 PM PDT
by
RonF
To: Pubbie
If the Hildebeast can invade New York and run for the Sinate, Rudy Giuliani should be able to do the same in Arkansas...not that he'd ever want to, but it could be a lot of fun!
15
posted on
06/24/2003 12:46:19 PM PDT
by
Ed_in_NJ
Comment #16 Removed by Moderator
To: Michael Milken
"but how good an idea would it be to have another "Hutchinson" on the ballot after one was just defeated?"
He'll have over a year to distiguish himself from his brother. Also Asa has relatively good name recognition in the State anyway.
He supposedly has ambitions to become Governor in 2006, but If Bush asked him to fight Lincoln, he said it would be hard to say no.
17
posted on
06/24/2003 12:59:41 PM PDT
by
Pubbie
(Bill Owens for Prez and Jeb as VP in '08.)
To: Pubbie; JohnnyZ; Theodore R.; Nathaniel Fischer; AuH2ORepublican; LdSentinal; Kuksool; Coop; ...
Well, I just hope Asa makes up his mind soon. Huckabee may be damaged goods now. I still think Win Paul Rockefeller might be a good option as he can self-finance himself. It'd be interesting to see him join his West Virginny cousin in the Senate...
18
posted on
06/24/2003 2:00:09 PM PDT
by
fieldmarshaldj
(~Remember, it's not sporting to fire at RINO until charging~)
To: Pubbie; azhenfud
Oh ye of little faith. The White House or the RNC will appoint someone to run. Out of state? Doesn't matter. Don't you realize it's not the place of the people in the actual state to nominate someone?!? They're just supposed to blindly vote for whoever the national parties tell them to vote for!! Here in NC we were stuck with a d#mn transplant RINO named Dolt to run against a former Clinton appointee. You see, both parties have forgotten the words of Federal Republic and choose to play musical chairs with elected officials. Man, I bet the Founders would be proud!!
19
posted on
06/24/2003 2:29:25 PM PDT
by
billbears
(Deo Vindice)
To: billbears
Here we go again, bashing Dole w/o any facts to back it up. The only facts are that she has voted conservative 100% of the time so far. It is not possible to do any better.
20
posted on
06/24/2003 2:43:52 PM PDT
by
ACAC
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-20, 21-34 next last
Disclaimer:
Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual
posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its
management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the
exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson