With popular Gov. Mike Beebe (D) term limited, Republicans see Arkansas as their best pickup opportunity in the 2014 gubernatorial cycle.
The GOP nominee is former US Rep. Asa Hutchinson, one of the House managers in the impeachment of President Clinton who lost to Governor Beebe in 2006. His Democratic rival, former US Rep. Mike Ross, was a leader of the fiscally conservative Blue Dog Democrats. Hutchinson leads Ross by 8 percent, according to the latest RealClearPolitics average of major polls.
But in a state increasingly trending conservative, Mr. Ross’s biggest concern may be the negatives in the state associated with Mr. Obama. Even Sen. Mark Pryor (D), who is well known and liked in the state, faces a tough reelection bid in this political climate.
