Ark. Gov. Huckabee Won't Run for Senate

AP (Yahoo) ^ | 8/27/03 | JAMES JEFFERSON, Associated Press Writer

[Koblenz]

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - Gov. Mike Huckabee said Wednesday he would not challenge Sen. Blanche Lincoln next year, leaving Arkansas' Republicans without a high-profile Senate candidate for 2004.

Huckabee, in the first year of his second full four-year term, said he needed to concentrate on state issues, including a heated fight over efforts to improve Arkansas' public school system.

"I need to be focused on what's best for the children of Arkansas," Huckabee said in a news conference called on short notice.

Huckabee, 48, had been leaning against a run against Lincoln, D-Ark., but until Wednesday had not firmly ruled it out.

Lincoln, a former two-term congresswoman who is in her first term as a senator, said she looked forward to working with Huckabee on issues important to Arkansas.

"I respect Governor Huckabee's decision to continue serving Arkansas in his current position," she said in a statement from Washington.

With his wife, Janet, standing at his side, Huckabee said he did not want to leave the job he inherited from former Gov. Jim Guy Tucker in 1996.

"This is not the time to abandon the job that I have," Huckabee said.

He cited a recent newspaper poll showing him trailing Lincoln only slightly in a hypothetical race and said he feared winning the contest and having to commute to Washington weekly.

Huckabee suggested that Lt. Gov. Winthrop Paul Rockefeller run against Lincoln, but noted that Rockefeller has expressed no interest. "He's a strong candidate if he chooses to do it," the governor said.

Huckabee was lieutenant governor in 1996 when he aborted a front-running bid for the U.S. Senate and became governor when Tucker left because of his Whitewater convictions.

In his second full term, Huckabee will be prohibited from running for re-election as governor in 2006. He could have run for the Senate without giving up the governor's office.

[Koblenz]

Does this take this seat out of the running for Republicans?

[Theodore R.]

AR is so Democrat that Huckabee's decision probably makes no difference as to the GOP prospects there. I cannot imagine any Republican even making a strong race for this permanently Democrat seat.

[Pubbie]

Oh $hit!

Why are we screwing up candidate recruitment this year???

:(

[AntiGuv]

Evidently, because an aide to Asa Hutchinson [now with the Dept. of Homeland Security] told the AP that Hutchinson has no intention of running for the seat.

[Coop]

Why are we screwing up candidate recruitment this year???

Nobody's screwing anything up. It's always like this. People came out with the "perfect" lists the day after the Nov 02 elections, and now some of those "perfect" choices are letting it be known they're not interested. That's life. Look at the bright side. SC and GA are already up for grabs (open), NC and FL may soon follow. And even LA could be thrown into the mix. And the Pubbies have a staggering 4:1 fundraising advantage over the Dems, when including debt. So I'd say, even without some of their star candidates, the GOP is doing fine.

[Coop]

AR is so Democrat that Huckabee's decision probably makes no difference as to the GOP prospects there.

I tend to agree.

[AuH2ORepublican]

Isn't the fact that Huckabee announced that he isn't running better for the GOP? This way, Asa Hutchinson, our strongest candidate, is free to run for the seat without stepping on the governor's toes.

[Coop]

If you believe Asa's the strongest candidate, and if Asa's running, then sure. :-)

But I'm still not convinced he could knock off Blanche, though he'd probably give her a good run.

[Pubbie]

You think Hutch will run?

I've heard a lot of conflicting information about Asa's plans.

[Pubbie]

Of come on, Arkansas leans Democrat but it's far from impossible for a Republican to win statewide there - This is not New York State!

[Coop]

I didn't say it was impossible. Not at all. I just don't think the GOP will beat Lincoln. But I've certainly been wrong before.

[Pubbie]

"I just don't think the GOP will beat Lincoln."

If Asa runs (Our last best hope) then I'd say we have a 50-50 chance at taking down Blanche.

Again Arkansas isn't that Democratic!

[Theodore R.]

Asa Hutchinson lost a race for this seat in 1986 -- ran a weak campaign. He has expressed little interest in running for the Senate again. I think his brother's defeat would contribute to his reluctance to run again.

[AuH2ORepublican]

"But I'm still not convinced [Asa] could knock off Blanche, though he'd probably give her a good run."

---

I'm not certain of the final result, either, but I think that Asa is our best hope against Blanche Lincoln. Hopefully Asa will be able to run up huge margins in the very Republican NW corner of the state (which he and his brother represented in Congress, and in which his brother didn't do all that great in last year because of his personal problems), allowing him to make up for Lincoln's advantage in (less populated) NE Arkansas. Asa will also benefit from Bush running for reelection; W. got 51% of the Arkansas vote in 2000, and will get between 55%-60% against either Kerry or Dean in 2004.

[Coop]

If Dubya approaches 60%, then I agree Asa probably would knock her off (if he's running). I just think his voting total will be much closer to 55% (although higher than 2001's 51%).

[AuH2ORepublican]

"You think Hutch will run?"

---

Asa Hutchinson? Yes. (Hopefully, Tim Hutchinson will sit this one out.)

Asa denied a few months ago reports that he had decided to run for the Senate. But that doesn't mean that he had decided *not* to run. I think in a month or two we'll hear about how he is satisfied with the work he did at DEA and is ready for a new challenge.

[Pubbie]

I agree, but the question is, will he run???

He says he's not interested, but on the other hand he said it would be hard for him to say no if Bush asked him to run.

[Pubbie]

I hope to God your right!

[Kuksool]

Tom Daschle is not deeply saddened by this news.

[AntiGuv]

Again, one of Asa Hutchinson's aides told the AP today that Hutchinson has no intention of running for Senate. Granted, I suppose that leaves room for him to have intention at some future point, but he certainly doesn't appear interested anyhow.

Don't you think it's curious that Huckabee would suggest Rockefeller if there were much chance Hutchinson will run?