Arkansas Politics at Their Best

Blanche Lincoln, the incumbent Senior Senator from Arkansas, has in a race for her job. The people of Arkansas have become dissatisfied with Washington, especially those who are currently serving in the Senate. They feel that the will of the people is no longer an issue with Washington politics. This feeling has escalated into the grass routes of the State.

One thing the people of Arkansas are adamant about are the Arkansas Razorbacks sports teams and politics. In small country stores, men congregate around an old wood burning stove, and the theme of their conversation is politics and the Arkansas Hawgs.

Lincoln has met her match in her worthy opponent, Bill Halter. He is known in Arkansas as the "father of the lottery," as through his perseverance while serving as Lieutenant Governor of Arkansas, he campaigned for a lottery to benefit scholarships for students attending college. This drive was difficult, especially in the Bible Belt. He showed that he could take an idea and run with it. He was rebuffed by constituents, his own party, and many religious factions. He took it to the people and they agreed with his idea, and it passed. Arkansas now has a lottery, and several high dollar "power ball" winners to date.

Lincoln has many Republican opponents, also. They are running on the premise that she has not listened to her constituents. She has voted with her party, rather than looking out for the interests of her State.

As one person interviewed on a local television station said, "We love Blanche, but we want her out of Washington."

There are many other races in Arkansas that will prove to be very interesting to watch to see how they play out, but the Halter-Lincoln race is the one that most people are keeping their eyes on. Lincoln and Halter starting running ads, but they are not derogatory to each other. They are playing fair, so far. Most of the time in Arkansas these smear ads do not work. Arkansans want the facts, and do not appreciate the smear campaigns that some National figures did in the general election.

This race proves to be one to watch from the local to national level. There is never a sure answer as to who will be selected to run in the Arkansas primary, but the air waves will be filled with campaign ads to help locals make up their minds.