What did Arkansas gain from last week's moment in the national political spotlight?
The answer probably depends on a person's political allegiances, but the truth is that the nation hardly noticed that the front-runners for both the Democratic and Republican nominations for president were featured speakers at Arkansas functions.
Hillary Clinton, the former U.S. secretary of state whose political roots include being first lady of Arkansas, headlined the state Democrats' annual Jefferson-Jackson dinner on Saturday.
Donald Trump, the New York billionaire who has surprised many by his jump to the top of the heavily populated Republican presidential field, was at the Arkansas Republicans' Reagan-Rockefeller dinner the day before in Hot Springs.
Both candidates had national correspondents in tow, but the reports filed from Arkansas were for the most part just another day's accounting of the campaigns. Neither candidate made huge news at the fund-raising events.
In Trump's case, the visit here was still overshadowed by earlier remarks he made elsewhere regarding illegal immigration from Mexico and, more recently, disrespecting U.S. Sen. John McCain's Vietnam War service.
Trump on Saturday disparaged McCain's "war hero" status because the former Navy pilot was captured, eclipsing anything he might have said in Arkansas on Friday.
"I like people who weren't captured," Trump said in reference to McCain.
Clinton's timely reaction to Trump's comment did put some attention on her Arkansas speech.
"It's shameful," she said of the insults directed at McCain, whom she described as "a genuine war hero." And she also said it was shameful that it took so long for Trump's fellow Republican candidates to start standing up to him.
Several of the Republican presidential candidates have now spoken out against Trump's slight of McCain's service; but few challenged his earlier assertion that Mexico is sending "criminals" and "rapists" across the border to the U.S.
Trump hasn't apologized for the remarks and insisted in Arkansas last week that he would win the Hispanic vote because he would create jobs.
"I will be the greatest job-producing president that God ever created," he said, exhibiting the bravado that has caused him to be likened to the showman P.T. Barnum.
Whatever his appeal, Trump attracted about 1,000 people to the Hot Springs Convention Center and reportedly helped raise about $450,000 for the state Republican Party.
It was what party officials hoped for when they extended the invitation for Trump to headline, even though a lot of state Republicans, including Gov. Asa Hutchinson, are pledged to support former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee's bid for the presidency.
For her part, Hillary Clinton similarly packed the house for the Democrats' fund-raiser at North Little Rock's Verizon Center.
Different accounts put the turnout at between 1,500 and 2,000. There's been no report yet of how much money the party raised through the event.
The speeches the two offered were as different as the candidates. Both are available on YouTube for those who would like to hear them.
Trump's was a stream-of-consciousness affair, as the candidate returned to familiar rants against President Obama and the newer aspirants, Republican and Democrat, for the presidency. He also focused on his wealth and resulting political independence as he made his case for election.
Clinton's speech was more reflective, including many references to her time in Arkansas, particularly her work for children and families and for health care.
Those experiences helped shape a political career that now includes a second bid for the presidency and a campaign that includes emphasis on issues like paid leave, childcare, equal pay for equal work, universal preschool and refinancing student debt.
She touched on a lot of issues on Saturday, but the occasion was perhaps more about reconnecting with the many familiar faces in the audience and raising their spirits.
Clinton was among friends and spoke with ease as she made her pitch for the White House. But she also offered candor as she appraised the political climate in Arkansas.
Last year, she said, was "a hard one for Democrats." Republicans now have control of the state's congressional delegation, the statehouse, both houses of the Legislature, and plenty of local-level offices.
That's a total reversal of the political environment in which Bill and Hillary Clinton first ventured into the Arkansas political scene.
It is such a tough environment, there is speculation that last weekend's Arkansas visit might be Hillary Clinton's only Arkansas campaign stop, at least in the primary election season.
She is nevertheless favored to win the party's primary and Arkansas Democrats are counting on her being on the top of the ticket to help them rebuild.
Commentary on 07/22/2015