Clinton Trying to Reconnect in Ark.
Roll Call Staff
Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) served as first lady of Arkansas for 12 years, but so far the Democrats in the Natural State’s Congressional delegation aren’t clamoring to support her 2008 presidential bid.
None of the Arkansas’ five Democrats are offering public endorsements of Clinton at this point, with some cautioning it is too early in the process or indicating they may stay out of presidential fray altogether.
Although many agree that there is some palpable enthusiasm in Arkansas for Clinton — and some Democrats are hopeful that as the nominee she could put the socially conservative but Democratic-leaning state back in play — the extent to which the junior Senator from New York will be able to translate that good will into votes remains up in the air.
Clinton campaign aides say her work as Arkansas first lady will factor prominently into voter education as the race wears on, and they even have implemented a program that utilizes Arkansans as surrogates to spread the message about her accomplishments in the state.
The Clinton campaign is in the process of developing a group of Arkansas Ambassadors — a group of people who will travel around the state and other neighboring states talking about Clinton’s record as first lady. The group is modeled on a group of traveling surrogates who did the same thing for then-Gov. Bill Clinton (D) during his 1992 presidential bid.
“Sen. Clinton assembled an extensive record of accomplishment as first lady of Arkansas, working on education and child advocacy issues,” said Clinton campaign spokesman Phil Singer. “The Arkansas Ambassadors program is going to focus on reminding people about that record and talking about her plans for the future.”
One Arkansas Democratic operative, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said that while Hillary Clinton has a loyal Arkansas network in her own right — many of them women — her husband’s role in helping to woo support can’t discounted.
“There’s a loyalty to Bill Clinton that’s pretty much unmatched,” the operative said. “You can’t have Hillary without Bill. He is going to factor into her support. It’s as much about Bill as it is about Hillary in Arkansas.”
But even with Bill Clinton’s popularity in Arkansas, the state’s Congressional Democrats remain hesitant to publicly commit their support to his wife at this point.
Asked about the feelings back home regarding Sen. Clinton, Sen. Mark Pryor (D-Ark.) said it depends on who you talk to.
“There are a lot of people who are very excited about Sen. Clinton being in the presidential race,” he said. “There are a lot of people looking forward to helping her win.”
Clinton was first lady in Arkansas from 1978 to 1980 and then 1982 to 1992, when Bill Clinton served as governor. He was elected president in 1992.
“She has a long relationship with the state of Arkansas and the people of Arkansas,” Pryor said. “We know her in a different way.
But Pryor said because of the fact that he is up for re-election in 2008, he probably will stay out of the presidential contest completely.
He added that he often jokes by telling people, “I’m just for everybody” in the White House race — Republican and Democrat alike. He also predicted Clinton would do well overall with voters in Arkansas.
Rep. Mike Ross (D-Ark.) had kind words for Clinton and the work she did as first lady, but was coy about whether he planned to make an endorsement.
“I don’t think anybody in Arkansas is focused on a presidential race,” Ross said.
He said he had not been contacted by any of the presidential contenders or their campaigns seeking his support.
“I don’t know that my opinion carries a lot of weight with anybody,” Ross said.
And, he added: “Hillary doesn’t need anybody to show her around Arkansas.”
Ross, who represents Hope, Bill Clinton’s birthplace, and Hot Springs, where the former president grew up, also noted former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee’s (R) presence in the 2008 race. But despite the abundance of Arkansas ties, he said talk about the White House contest has been sparse back home. Huckabee, who left office in the beginning of this year, is considered a long-shot contender for the GOP nod next year.
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