Gov. Asa Hutchinson certainly tried to take full advantage of the exposure offered by his chairmanship of the National Governors Association and its recent convention.
Tucked into the week's activity was a brief spurt of presidential politics, mostly some well-deserved Trump-bashing from the Arkansas governor. More about that shortly.
Hutchinson was in Washington, D.C., for the winter meeting of the organization he has chaired since July.
Mind you, official Washington was terribly distracted, what with the decision by a sitting Supreme Court justice to resign after the current term ends -- and the beginning scramble to name his successor, who President Joe Biden has said will be the nation's first Black woman to serve on the court.
It's a huge development, but that's just the most recent item on Biden's plate, as he struggles to course-correct an administration weighed down by problems that seem to eclipse its successes.
Among those obvious successes, however, is last year's passage of a massive infrastructure bill, an issue in which the governors -- Republican and Democrat alike -- have great interest.
The plan will infuse billions of dollars into the states, including roughly $4 billion for Arkansas over five years, to address long-standing infrastructure needs and other challenges, like expanding broadband and internet access and repairing and replacing water systems.
From his chairman's seat, Republican Hutchinson told Democrat Biden that the states need flexibility in using that money.
"Send us the money. Give us flexibility. We will spend it and you can audit us," Hutchinson said.
That may have been the most pressing issue conveyed by the governors' association, which had supported the infrastructure package and wants a hand in its administration.
It was hardly all the exposure the governor received as he presided over the association's bipartisan gatherings, including that session with President Biden. He also appeared on NBC's "Meet the Press" with another governor to talk about covid-19 concerns.
The segment was one of many such Sunday talk show appearances by Hutchinson since taking over the NGA chairmanship.
The chairmanship rotates between a Republican and a Democrat and whoever is in the seat often emerges as a potential presidential contender.
Hutchinson arguably had that status a bit sooner, given his stints in Congress and in federal administrative roles during President George W. Bush's administration. Hutchinson was head of the Drug Enforcement Administration and later an undersecretary in the Department of Homeland Security.
It was no surprise to see a reporter pull him aside during the meeting for an interview about the next presidential race.
Hutchinson, one of the few Republicans who have been openly critical of former President Donald Trump, said -- not for the first time -- that Trump shouldn't run again or lead the Republican Party.
"I do not believe Trump is the one to lead our party and our country again, as president," Hutchinson told Business Insider. "I've made it clear: This is about the future. It's not about the past elections."
Hutchinson's remarks came as Trump told rally goers in Texas that, if re-elected, he would pardon individuals who took part in last year's Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol. That declaration was itself further confirmation that the Republicans need a different standard-bearer.
Hutchinson, who is term-limited as governor here, once again didn't rule out a presidential bid of his own.
For now, as it should be, he's concentrating on finishing his second term as governor.
That means staying locked in on issues like infrastructure and the nagging ever-present pandemic that has dominated every governor's agenda since covid-19 struck.