BETWEEN THE LINES: Halter Clears Path For Ross

Former Lt. Gov. Bill Halter wanted to make an impact in the 2014 Arkansas governor’s race. He has by leaving it.

The great hope of the state’s Democrats is Halter’s departure will strengthen Mike Ross’ gubernatorial bid enough to carry the former congressman from Prescott into the off ce.

Ross’ only other potential challenger for the Democratic nomination never entered the fi eld. John Burkhalter, a Little Rock businessman and state highway commissioner, opted to run for lieutenant governor, pledging support to Ross (and vice versa).

Now Halter is out, ending his campaign “to avoid a divisive primary and to help unite the Democratic Party.” Ross is alone in the Democratic fi eld, apparently spared the cost of a primary campaign.

Someone else could still get in the Democratic primary, but with the head start Ross has on fundraising, another Democrat would likely just waste time and money.

Meanwhile, former U.S. Rep. Asa Hutchinson of Rogers clearly leads the Republican fi eld for governor, although state Rep. Debra Hobbs of Rogers and Curtis Coleman, another Little Rock businessman, are also announced candidates.

Neither is nearly as well known to Arkansas voters as Hutchinson, a former state Republican Party chairman who not only served in Congress but also headed the federal Drug Enforcement Administration and was an undersecretary for Homeland Security.

His national ties ensure he’ll attract out-ofstate dollars, although his campaign reported comparatively unimpressive numbers for the quarter that ended June 30 (less than $400,000).

The big money-raiser for the quarter was Ross, with $1.97 million donated, or about five times what Hutchinson’s campaign pulled in.

Ross’ success had to have influenced Halter’s decision to quit the race. Halter raised closer to $100,000 in the same time frame as his campaign relied mostly on a personal loan he made to it.

Polling, too, had to have sent a message to Halter the 2014 gubernatorial primary might turn out like his failed run for U.S. Senate in 2010.

That’s when he challenged the incumbent Democrat, U.S. Sen. Blanche Lincoln. Halter bloodied her up in the primary but lost to her in a hard-fought runoft . Republican John Boozman, then a congressman and now senator, was the benefi ciary, although he might have beaten Lincoln anyway.

Nevertheless, the 2010 primary was precisely the kind of divisive fi ght within the Democratic Party that Halter’s departure from this year’s gubernatorial race will avoid.

Ross certainly isn’t assured the governorship, but he can now concentrate even more on raising a war chest and can hone his message to counter Hutchinson.

It is a message that must not only secure votes from the wide middle in Arkansas, which has made a decidedly Republican turn in the last couple of election cycles, but also appeal to the larger Democratic voter base.

The state’s more liberal Democrats, particularly those who have been strongly for Halter, may not be enthusiastic about Ross and his conservative voting record. But, if they vote, they’ll vote for Ross against Hutchinson. The former congressman’s role in the impeachment of President Bill Clinton pretty much guarantees that sort of anti-Hutchinson turnout from Democrats.

Plus, Halter set the tone for his followers to back Ross, congratulating Ross “on a great start to his campaign” and promising to work hard to elect Ross and other Democratic nominees.

The question left hanging is whether Halter will do that from the campaign trail as a candidate himself or as a bystander in 2014. The North Little Rock man has been encouraged to challenge U.S. Rep. Tim Griff n, the incumbent Republican from Little Rock, for Congress.

There are other Democrats considering that race; but the nomination may be Halter’s, if he wants it. He’d start with some money and a whole lot of good will from Democrats grateful for a cleaner, clearer path for Ross to the governorship.

That path will be rough enough when the fall campaign comes around next year, but Halter’s withdrawal now has certainly altered the dynamics for what is to come.

BRENDA BLAGG IS A FREELANCE COLUMNIST AND LONGTIME JOURNALIST IN NORTHWEST ARKANSAS.

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