Arkansas GOP still lacking a candidate

The Hill ^ | JUNE 24, 2003 | Peter Savodnik

[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 he’s not running. And Huckabee, who’s been embroiled in a series of highly charged budget and education debates at the state Legislature, says he hasn’t 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, Arkansas’s 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 don’t have a candidate … is not good, I guess,” Ryall said. But he added, “Whoever gets in, it’s 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 she’s 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 Lincoln’s 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.

[Pubbie]

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.

[RonF]

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".

[ken5050]

Is there a GOP female official in Arkansas who recently had triplets?

[JohnnyZ]

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.

[JohnnyZ]

Besides folk hero Sheriff Andy Lee, Gunner DeLay is also waiting for Huckabee to make up his mind.

[Pubbie]

"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.

[RonF]

What was his list of demands? And where were they documented?

[Pubbie]

nope

[Pubbie]

"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!

[ken5050]

Well, boys..start trying....there's time to impregnate a candidate...

[JohnnyZ]

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.

[RonF]

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.

[RonF]

How reliable is the American Spectator?

[Ed_in_NJ]

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!

[Pubbie]

"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.

[fieldmarshaldj]

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...

[billbears]

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!!

[ACAC]

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.