In 1992, large groups of Arkansans traveled at their own expense to New Hampshire and other early primary states to gin up support for then Governor Bill Clinton. The support helped Clinton win second place in New Hampshire that year and dub himself "the comeback kid."
Sixteen years later, they're back. More than 70 Arkansas politicians and supporters who knew and worked with Governor Clinton and Hillary Clinton are in New Hampshire campaigning for the New York senator.
At a Democratic party rally in Milford last night, I saw former state senate leader Jay Bradford, North Little Rock Mayor Patrick Henry Hays, state representative Gregg Reep, and Dem political consultant Sheila Bronfman, who organised the trip.
I sat down with state representative Gregg Reep of Warren, Arkansas, for a chat. Reep and I got acquainted during my time as a state capitol reporter on the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. He is a thoughtful, detail-oriented politician who seemed to me slightly to the left of center for Arkansas Democrats, and less prone to the social-conservative hysterics that sometimes grip Dems down there. He ran a brief campaign for house speaker last year but couldn't gain any traction.
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Reep told me:
This is the Arkansas traveller group. This goes back to president Clinton back in 1992. over the course of that campaign, we covered a lot of different parts of the country, and in 1996 we did it again.
We're going to be going out there and beating the bushes, a lot of door-to-door canvassing. Of course New Hampshire is pretty rural, a lot like Arkansas. A lot of small towns.
We're trying to offer a personal perspective. Each one of us knows Hillary Clinton personally. It's been close to 30 years. I actually met her when President Clinton was attorney general. I go way back. I've known her personally for all this time, and over the years worked with her and was around her. Especially while he was governor.
She's one of the smartest people I've ever known. Period. She's very dedicated, passionate, especially about young people, and issues that affect young people. She's been around decision making at a high level just about all her life. She is fully capable and qualified to be president.
I asked Reep what he thinks about the Iowa result. He pointed out that as far as nominating delegates are concerned, Clinton, Obama and Edwards are still virtually tied.
Quite honestly, with all do respect, the media makes more out of Iowa than actually exists.
