Bill Comes Back

Things are getting more exciting every day as we cruise towards election day. Yesterday, Bill Clinton made his second trip home for the benefit of Mike Beebe and the Democratic ticket. Here are some links to news clips covering the story.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=q0qxEs6Davg

http://youtube.com/watch?v=dPTKNJpnKi4

A few thousand people showed up to the airport in Jonesboro to see Arkansas' favorite son. Victory was in the air. Quite a contrast to Asa Hutchinson's poorly attended grocery bagging event held with Mike Huckabee. There's no doubt who has the momentum heading towards Tuesday.

In The Bag? Hutchinson's Day at The Grocery Store

Asa traveled to Northwest Arkansas, his home turf, along with a decently popular governor less than a week before the election. Normally, this type of event would draw a huge crowd. But apparently, voters run from wherever Hutchinson goes. There were several embarrassing stories from the event at the grocery store not counting Hutchinson's shameless pandering and obvious flip flop on the grocery tax itself.

No people showed up. It got so bad that a cashier had to pretend she was a shopper. After the photo-op, she went back to work. If Hutchinson can't bring out a crowd this close to election day, how is he going to mobilize voters?

Hutchinson also claimed if lost the election, he might return to bag groceries for a living. The further we can keep him from positions of responsibility the better!

Maybe George W. Bush, who is visiting on Monday, can bring some folks out. That mid 30's approval rating could provide just the boost Asa needs.

Negative Asa Ad Taken Off Air

There was another triumphant win for camp Beebe today when Channel 8 in Jonesboro removed a slanderous and disgusting political television commercial from the airwaves. The group that made the ad, the Coalition for Arkansas' Future, was the same one that has produced other false ads this campaign season attacking Mike Beebe's record.

It's also important to note that nearly all of the Coalition for Arkansas' Future money comes from Republican interests--including a huge donation from the Republican Governors Association.

This is a big blow to the smear campaign and a big win for Mike Beebe-who has kept a clear, concise and clean message since entering the race.

Here Come The Endorsements

Recent polls leave little doubt which gubernatorial candidate Arkansans believe is the best man to move the state forward.

Today, two important newspapers gave Mike Beebe their endorsement.

The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, the state's most read paper, called Beebe a "pragmatic, even-tempered, knowledgeable and forward-looking candidate deeply rooted in his community and his state." High praise from a normally conservative editorial page. "Our choice for governor is Mike Beebe," the endorsement concluded.

The Morning News of Northwest Arkansas offered an enthusiastic endorsement. "We are definitely for Mike Beebe for governor," the editorial states. "But don’t limit his appeal to Democrats. We know for certain that he has strong supporters right here in Republican-rich Northwest Arkansas. Beebe is their choice – and ours – because of what can and will do as governor. He will lead this state. Beebe will go into office with a better working knowledge of sate government than any governor in recent times and perhaps better understanding of the legislative process than many sitting lawmakers who have the potential to be an outstanding governor."

That's some high praise for Mike Beebe. With just over a week until the election, things could hardly be better for the Attorney General.

More Polls Show Beebe Cruising

Attorney General Mike Beebe got more good news today, with two new polls showing him leading Asa Hutchinson. The Arkansas Poll, conducted by UA researchers, showed Beebe leading Hutchinson 51 to 38. Meanwhile, a SurveyUSA poll showed his leading Hutchinson 58 to 38.

And please don't forget Mitt Romney, the head of the Republican Governors Association, predicting a Beebe victory. You can watch the clip here:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=sfHu34OPxaI

Heard It Through The Grapevine

Asa Hutchinson is apparently traveling the state by bus. Sources tell me that there's no license plate on the vehicle. Maybe it's an import from DC--just like Asa!

Same Story, Different Day: Another Great Poll for Beebe

The third Constituent Dynamics poll of the cycle came out and Mike Beebe has reason to be happy. The poll again shows Beebe ahead by double digits and again polling over the important 50% threshhold. He is leading Republican Asa Hutchinson 52-39.

You can check out the results here:

http://www.talkbusiness.net/Weblogs/WeblogItemList.aspx?WeblogID=2c1ca2ae-06e6-4883-9e3a-554f31d9db55

With poll numbers like this, it's pretty easy to see why Asa Hutchinson stoop to new lows in a recent television ad, using children to criticize Beebe.

Asa Uses Kids in New Partisan Attack Ad

Asa Hutchinson began airing a new television ad today that must set some sort of sleaze record. The ad actually features young children--some young enough that they wouldn't enjoy pre-k if Hutchinson were elected--bashing Mike Beebe with every attack you could think of.

Perhaps no single event in the campaign better cements Hutchinson's status as a typical DC politician. Hutchinson does not understand that Arkansas needs a governor who can reach across the aisle and unite us. This type of partisanship pervades the national political scene. There's no room for it in Arkansas.

And to feature young, innocent children to launch attacks on Mike Beebe is objectionable, pathetic and desperate.