[AuH2ORepublican]

"How strong would Jay Dickey be? He lost his congressional seat, but wasn't that the most dem part of the state?"

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I think Dickey would be a terrible candidate. Sure, the 4th CD is traditionally Democratic, but Gore only carried it with 50.2% to Bush's 47.3% in 2000 (after redistricting, it may have narrowed to 50.1% for Gore to 47.4% for Bush), so its more marginal than Democratic. And Dickey didn't just lose the seat in 2000, he was shellacked by Ross when he tried to get the seat back last year. If he can't even carry his home turf in the 4th CD, how is he going to beat Lincoln statewide, with her greater name ID and huge margins in the 1st CD?

We need Asa Hutchinson to run. Did you know that the term "Ace" to describe a baseball team's #1 pitcher stems from the name of a star pitcher in the late 1860s, Asa Brainard? Similarly, Asa Hutchinson could be our ace-in-the-hole in the 2004 Arkansas Senate race.

[fieldmarshaldj]

I concur on Dickey, he would be a lousy candidate. Losing one's House seat doesn't make for a good Senate candidate (just ask Gary Franks). Dickey's also getting "up there" and would be 65 come January '05, not elderly, but as a rule, I get a little antsy once they start passing 62-63 for Senate seats (assuming they'll want to remain for a minimum 2 terms). One reason I was backing then-54-year old Ed Bryant over then-62 year old Lamar! Alexander in our Senate contest. The last Senator in my state to start at that age died before completing a term. He's older now than Howard Baker was after he retired in '85 and a month ago surpassed the age of Albert Gore, Sr. when he was defeated back in 1970 after 32 years in Congress.