What a Mark Pryor (D-Ark) non-Endorsement of Hillary Tells Us

by TarHeel, Wed Mar 28, 2007 at 10:17:08 AM EST

The first glimpse of what Hillary will do to downticket races comes to us from Arkansas.  The state in which Hillary was the first lady for 12 years.   She and her husband were in power there for a long, long time.

Conservative Democratic Senator Mark Pryor is up for re-election in 2008 and will likely refuse to endorse anyone.  He endorsed Lieberman in 2006 and has views closer to Hillary than any other candidate in the race but still will not endorse her.

http://electioncentral.tpmcafe.com/blog/ electioncentral/2007/mar/28/hillary_work s_to_win_support_in_former_home_state_of _arkansas

Hillary was first lady of Arkansas for 12 years -- but does that guarantee that she'll have the support of the state's Congressional delegation and other prominent pols?...
Arkansas Senator Mark Pryor, who's up for reelection in 2008, may sit out the Presidential race altogether. "I'm just for everybody," he says.

Funny when Lamont was up against Lieberman in the general he chose sides.

http://rollcall.com/issues/52_101/news/1 7773-1.html

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.

What do the GOPers think?  

http://www.gopprogress.com/user/EzOnTheE yez/diary

(have to scroll down)

While Mike Huckabee really makes little or no contribution to the presidential sweepstakes, he would be an awesome candidate to take out Mark Pryor in the 2008 Arkansas Senate race where he could help the GOP take back the Senate.
Not only do I think that Huckabee would win - due in some part to the fact that Hillary will likely drag Pryor down as the presidential nominee because she is reportedly very unpopular in Arkansas - but making this race as hyper-competative as it would be would have the added effect of significantly draining DSCC coffers of funds that would otherwise be used to try to take down Smith, Coleman, Collins, and Sununu.

The blogosophere has been way ahead of the MSM on this.  I hope this downticket effect gets talked about in the MSM....

Update

The point is to illustrate - not Hillary's number in a primary, but what she would do in the general election. As an example one only needs to look at Virginia and Jim Webb. He had very public rallies with Obama and Edwards but tried to keep the public appearances with Hillary minimized. Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket



Tags: Hillary Clinton, Mark Pryor (all tags)

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What? (none / 0)

...due in some part to the fact that Hillary will likely drag Pryor down as the presidential nominee because she is reportedly very unpopular in Arkansas...

Like we should care what republicans "reportedly" think?

It isn't as if she were found to have voted with Vito Marcantonio, eh?


543,895 votes
by Michael Bersin on Wed Mar 28, 2007 at 10:41:28 AM EST

Or campaigned for Barry Goldwater (none / 0)


McCain - a serial Opportunist, from marriage to policy positions
by TarHeel on Wed Mar 28, 2007 at 10:48:57 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Or campaigned for Barry Goldwater (none / 0)

Do you mean this Barry Goldwater?


543,895 votes
by Michael Bersin on Wed Mar 28, 2007 at 02:01:04 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Its not just Republicans (none / 0)

Plenty of Dems and Indys don't like her, as well. Its not just the netroots that finds her irritating and possibly unelectable.


by mihan on Wed Mar 28, 2007 at 01:05:56 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: What a Mark Pryor (D-Ark) non-Endorsement of H (none / 0)

As for the "downticket effect"....

Primary polls show Clinton will win Arkansas by a landslide.
General election polls show Clinton will win Arkansas.

Pryor likely is positioning himself in case Huckabee runs against him for the Senate. Arkansas is a small state, there are supporters of Clinton, Huckabee, and former candidate Wesley Clark who have all been involved in their presidential campaigns.  


BlueSunbelt.Com Netroots for the Sunbelt states robwire.com My personal blog
by robliberal on Wed Mar 28, 2007 at 10:59:06 AM EST

Odd than that if Hillary will win (none / 0)

in a landslide an incumbent senator and member of the DLC  who would endorse a candidate (Lieberman) running against  a democrat (Lamont) won't endorse Hillary.

Hillary's toxic -   McCaskill and Jim Webb did not want to be seen with her.


McCain - a serial Opportunist, from marriage to policy positions
by TarHeel on Wed Mar 28, 2007 at 11:02:47 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Odd than that if Hillary will win (none / 0)

The point is that some voters in Arkansas who voted for Pryor for the Senate may support Huckabee in the GOP primary. Pryor is taking the position of not getting involved in a "local" race where there are two presidential candidates Clinton and Huckabee from the same state and one potential candidate Wesley Clark who has not yet decided.

That is a good strategy. I have no doubts Clinton will have a good chance to carry Arkansas. Kerry got to 44% with no advertising and resources.  


BlueSunbelt.Com Netroots for the Sunbelt states robwire.com My personal blog
by robliberal on Wed Mar 28, 2007 at 11:42:12 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: What a Mark Pryor (D-Ark) non-Endorsement of H (none / 0)

I'd be interested in the polling that shows Hillary wins Arkansas in the General Election.  I haven't heard anything along those lines.  In fact, I remember seeing that she had negatives in Arkansas that were over 40%.  I'd be glad if that's incorrect, but haven't seen any evidence to the contrary.  Do you happen to have a link?


by HSTruman on Wed Mar 28, 2007 at 11:10:58 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: What a Mark Pryor (D-Ark) non-Endorsement of H (none / 0)

General election polls show Clinton will win Arkansas.

Is this true?


by justinh on Wed Mar 28, 2007 at 11:11:27 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: What a Mark Pryor (none / 0)

What a silly excuse for a diary.  Geez - why don't you cling to straws!!



by marasaud on Wed Mar 28, 2007 at 11:10:58 AM EST

says you.. (none / 0)

everyone's entittled to their own opinion, but hillary is rarely allowed to campaign in public with candidates south of the mason dixon line.

they like here $$$$ as long as they don't have to be publicly seen with her.


McCain - a serial Opportunist, from marriage to policy positions
by TarHeel on Wed Mar 28, 2007 at 11:16:13 AM EST
[ Parent ]

when Hillary went to VA (none / 0)

her appearanc was not at a public rally but a private fundraiser.

Hillary cash = good.

Hillary photographed with the candidate = bad

here's Winger coverage

James H. Webb, Jr. and Hillary Clinton got together to raise some bucks on Tuesday, October 3rd in Northern Virginiastan. You'd think there would be massive coverage on the lefty blogs but the Hillary has definitely been played down (I wouldn't use the term "suppressed" but it did come to mind).


McCain - a serial Opportunist, from marriage to policy positions
by TarHeel on Wed Mar 28, 2007 at 11:36:07 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Hillary in Arkansas (none / 0)

Hillary has been leading in Arkansas polling surveys for a long time.  Here is one from a year ago.  Another was published a few weeks ago, which I will try to find the link for.  Don't you folks do research???

Hillary Clinton Still Tops in Arkansas Poll.
 http://www.newsmax.com/archives/ic/2006/ 8/25/221722.shtml
Former Arkansas first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton and retired Army General Wesley Clark, both Democrats, were the favored candidates over Republican Governor Mike Huckabee among Arkansans polled about hypothetical 2008 presidential races. Opinion Research Associates of Little Rock conducted the survey for Arkansas News Bureau-Stephens Media Group. In a head-to-head match up, 49 percent of respondents said they would vote for Clinton, 36 percent favored the governor, and 15 percent were undecided


by marasaud on Wed Mar 28, 2007 at 11:16:43 AM EST

I'll update the diary (none / 0)

more clearly illustrate the point..


McCain - a serial Opportunist, from marriage to policy positions
by TarHeel on Wed Mar 28, 2007 at 11:23:43 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Hillary in Arkansas (none / 0)

So she could beat Huckabee in Arkansas. How about any of the people who are actually likely to be the Republican nominee?


DC Drinking Liberally • DC for Democracy

by KCinDC on Wed Mar 28, 2007 at 11:30:16 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Hillary in Arkansas (none / 0)

So a poll from more than a year ago shows that she'd beat a guy who has no chance of winning the nomination?  Not sure what that really proves.

 


by HSTruman on Wed Mar 28, 2007 at 11:43:49 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Hillary in Arkansas (none / 0)

Huckabee would be the strongest GOP candidate in Arkansas since he is a popular former governor. The big 3 GOP candidates would turn off evangelical voters etc.


BlueSunbelt.Com Netroots for the Sunbelt states robwire.com My personal blog
by robliberal on Wed Mar 28, 2007 at 11:47:06 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Hillary in Arkansas (none / 0)

That's one theory, certainly.  But I'd be curious to see how much moderate/conservative Democratic support would peel off if Hillary was matched up against eithe McCain or Rudy.  


by HSTruman on Wed Mar 28, 2007 at 01:26:15 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Check Out This Poll re Arkansas (none / 0)

http://election2008warroom.blogspot.com/ 2007/03/arg-has-four-new-polls-for-us.ht ml


by marasaud on Wed Mar 28, 2007 at 11:20:29 AM EST

Corrected Link - Sorry (none / 0)

http://election2008warroom.blogspot.com/ 2007/03/arg-has-four-new-polls-for-us.ht ml


by marasaud on Wed Mar 28, 2007 at 11:21:29 AM EST

Pryor at time acts Republican (none / 0)

I don't think his state is as red as he would suggest with his voting.  


by dpANDREWS on Wed Mar 28, 2007 at 11:27:38 AM EST

Which explains (none / 0)

why she led Mike Huckabee by 17% in the state in a poll last year.


by zt155 on Wed Mar 28, 2007 at 01:39:06 PM EST

still doesn't (none / 0)

explain than why Pryor won't endorse Hillary over Obama or Edwards in a primary.


McCain - a serial Opportunist, from marriage to policy positions
by TarHeel on Wed Mar 28, 2007 at 01:48:37 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: still doesn't (none / 0)

Because Huckabee may run against Pryor if he is out of the presidential race by then. There are people in Arkansas who have voted for both Pryor and Huckabee.  


BlueSunbelt.Com Netroots for the Sunbelt states robwire.com My personal blog
by robliberal on Wed Mar 28, 2007 at 04:09:37 PM EST
[ Parent ]

so you're saying (none / 0)

he won't endorse Hillary because he doesn't want to offend the huckabee for president supporters??


McCain - a serial Opportunist, from marriage to policy positions
by TarHeel on Wed Mar 28, 2007 at 05:02:25 PM EST

Re: What a Mark Pryor (D-Ark) (none / 0)

Lame, lame, lame diary.  Grasping for straws because Edwards can't get past 14%?  Even worse in Arkansas (a southern state) Edwards continues his dismal showing in the South in the latest Arkansas poll:

http://americanresearchgroup.com/pres08/ ardem8-701.shtml

Clinton blows Edwards and Obama away in the state of Arkansas, 49% to 16% (Obama) and a far-distant 12% (Edwards.)  Yet, a non-endorsement of an Arkansas Democrat AT THIS POINT in the race (isn't there a ton of time left?) is some sort of scarlet letter?  

Apparently, desperate times call for desperate measures with Edwards supporters.  At least Obama is somewhat in reach of Clinton and could pounce on a major mistake, make some headway.  But the ho-hum, non-descript, ineffective Edwards campaign?  Generally dismal in state polling and about 20+ percent behind the frontrunner in a solidifying primary picture.  No wonder his supporters are trying to make headway with anything they can think up, even if it makes very little sense.   They should ask themselves instead why Edwards is regarded so poorly particularly in the South, the region he should have the most strength in.  

http://americanresearchgroup.com/


by georgep on Thu Mar 29, 2007 at 09:54:23 AM EST


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