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Arkansas GOPers to return home confident Friday, Sep 5, 2008 By Aaron Sadler Stephens Washington Bureau ST. PAUL, Minn. - With history on their side and a tried-and-true talking point at the ready, Arkansas Republicans were confident Thursday about John McCain's chances to win their state in November. McCain accepted the Republican presidential nomination Thursday to cap the GOP convention, a four-day event that offered a significant contrast between the Republican ticket and Democratic nominee Barack Obama, Arkansas delegates said. When Arkansas' 34 delegates return to the state, they will repeat a criticism used successfully against John Kerry four years ago and other Democrats before that: The Democratic nominee does not connect with the average Arkansas voter. "I don't think Obama has the views and values of everyday Arkansans," said Reta Hamiliton of Bella Vista, the state's GOP national committeewoman. "John McCain and Sarah Palin relate to the everyday values of Arkansans ... We'll identify with their views and values," said Doyle Webb of Benton, a delegate to the convention. Rep. John Boozman, R-Rogers, said Obama and running mate Sen. Joe Biden of Delaware were too liberal for the state. Both have more liberal voting records in the Senate than Arkansas' two Democratic senators, Mark Pryor and Blanche Lincoln, Boozman said. "Arkansas is a middle-right state and I think when you look at the issues like drilling for oil or keeping health care in the private sector instead of socialized medicine, all those issues are so important to Arkansans," Boozman said. Native son Bill Clinton is the only Democratic presidential nominee to win Arkansas in the past three decades. Polling this year shows McCain with a double-digit edge over Obama in the state. McCain's selection of Palin, the Alaska governor, as his running mate only helps his chances to win Arkansas, Boozman said. Palin is anti-abortion and is a lifetime member of the National Rifle Association, both positive attributes, he said. "I've got three daughters and I think the women of Arkansas and the people of Arkansas can really relate to this lady," Boozman said. "She comes across as one of them." Both McCain and Palin are known to buck the party from time to time and a "maverick" reputation will be an advantage in a state that's known for its own independent streak, Webb said. Even though Democrats dominate the state legislature, control every state constitutional office and have five of six seats in the congressional delegation, national Democrats have struggled in the Natural State. Webb said one reason Obama would have trouble in Arkansas is because the state's Democrats in Congress fall more in line with McCain, despite their party. "Obama would be the most liberal member," he said. "I would dare say none of our congressmen or senators would say that." Boozman even suggested Obama had socialist tendencies, saying an Obama administration would move to "redistribute wealth" as part of his economic plan if elected. The economy is an overarching issue in the race. "I don't know that there's really one fix to the economy, but I think the wrong way is advancing any additional tax proposals," as Obama would be expected to do, said Gerald Fulbright of Locust Grove, a convention delegate. Fulbright said the Arkansas GOP can't afford to take it easy when Republicans return to the state, despite what the party sees as a clear path to victory for McCain. "You do everything like you were 10 points behind whether you're behind or you're ahead," he said. "We need to touch all the bases as if we were losing big in Arkansas." Obama maintains a 5 percentage point lead nationally according to the latest Gallup tracking poll. GOP state chairman Dennis Milligan attributed McCain's apparent strength in Arkansas to his national security experience. Arkansas is a "red, white and blue state" that values national security, Milligan said. Democrats may have logistical problems in Arkansas, as well, Hamilton said. The state Democrats expected former Arkansas first lady Hillary Clinton to win that party's nomination, Hamilton said. If Clinton had won, she would have been the front-runner in the state. Now, with Obama, Democrats were unprepared for a campaign, she said. The state's Democrats said last week they were hoping they could get at least one campaign stop from Obama in the state. Obama's last visit was in 2006 on behalf of Mike Beebe's gubernatorial campaign. McCain stopped off in Rogers for a fund-raiser a month ago. Republicans like to mention the tally. "Sen. McCain has visited Arkansas four times in the last few years and Sen. Obama's been there once," said Asa Hutchinson, a former 3rd District congressman. "The people of Arkansas have learned about Sen. McCain, his maverick reputation, and what he wants to do." |
