With President Clinton otherwise occupied, Republicans in his home state of Arkansas are savoring the thought of electing a GOP-dominated congressional delegation.
They even think they can capture the U.S. Senate seat vacated by retiring Democratic Sen. David Pryor.Up to now, Arkansas has been a paradox in the South, remaining firmly Democratic as its neighbors increasingly sent Republicans to Congress.
Three open seats for Congress and a state Democratic Party widely viewed as weak in nurturing young new candidates appear to give Republicans their best chance to dominate Arkansas races for federal office.
No Arkansas Republican has ever won a U.S. Senate seat. But a statewide poll three weeks before the election reflected little difference in the support of the candidates vying for Pryor's seat, Republican Rep. Tim Hutchinson and Attorney General Winston Bryant, a Democrat.
Favorite son Clinton, favored to easily win Arkansas' six electoral votes, last visited the state over Labor Day and made several references to Bryant in a post-convention speech. He hosted a fund-raiser for the candidate in Washington.
But aside from fellow Arkansan and presidential adviser Mack McLarty, there's been no parade of Clinton administration officials to Arkansas to stump for Bryant.
"Arkansans are pretty independent folks. They don't need anybody coming in here and telling them who to vote for," Bryant spokeswoman Carol Butler said. Still, she promised: "You'll see more help from President Clinton in the closing days of the campaign."
In Washington, a presidential adviser said Clinton, who is spending election night in Little Rock, may return to Arkansas before then to try to help Bryant and other Democrats.
"The president feels he's done a lot for them," White House political director Doug Sosnik said. "The president feels it's very important to hold the (Senate) seat."
Both national parties have poured money into the campaign because of its importance to the power structure in the next Senate.
Bryant also has served as secretary of state and lieutenant governor and never has lost a statewide election in seven tries. The dead heat is more significant for Hutchinson, a two-term congressman from the GOP stronghold of northwestern Arkansas who entered the race late.
Republicans are running solidly in three of the four House races:
- In southern Arkansas' 4th District, an area that four years ago was considered a Democratic safe haven, Republican incumbent Rep. Jay Dickey leads by a wide margin over unknown, underfinanced Vincent Tolliver.
- Hutchinson's brother, Asa, is the GOP nominee to succeed his brother in the 3rd District, running against Democrat Ann Henry, who entered the race a month ago.
- In eastern Arkansas' 1st District, Republican lawyer Warren Dupwe is running strong against Democrat Marion Berry, a Clinton appointee who came home to run after three years in Washington.