Lynch at Large

There has been a small but intriguing rumor floating around, and the source is somewhat well informed. This involves presidential politics and the potential involvement of a well-known and highly placed Arkansan.

Mike Huckabee is just back from New Hampshire and probably feeling pretty darned important, considering the warm GOP welcome. David Sanders’ column in the Stephens Media Group papers and his recent archived interview with me on WAI Radio.com will give you the bearings on Republican politics as things are shaping up nationally.

Obviously, New York Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton is a Democratic frontrunner for the presidential nomination. She faces the same obstacle as any other contender from her party. Democrats must turn at least one red state blue. Clinton cannot even carry Arkansas, so her situation is worrisome. You should also consider how quickly things change. There are southern states which, under the right circumstances, might go with Arkansas’ former first lady. Nobody knows how high gas prices will head or the political fallout from Hurricane Katrina. Mrs. Clinton’s candidacy is still very much alive.

But the nationally prominent and hugely popular former partner at the Rose Law Firm is not the subject of the recent whisper in the wind. This scenario involves Indiana’s United States Senator Evan Bayh. He is a Democrat and has transformed midwestern moderation into a lifestyle. Here is a bit from his own web site:

“Bayh is a leader of the New Democrat movement. At a time when partisanship is threatening progress on the nation’s most pressing issues, Bayh is spearheading the creation of the Third Way, an organization designed to build consensus around legislation that would otherwise remain bogged down in political turf wars. Bayh also served for more than four years as Chairman of the Democratic Leadership Council (DLC), a national group that offers support for Democratic elected officials and community leaders with a progressive approach on issues. He helped establish the New Democrat Coalition, a new and growing group of senators who are committed to sensible bipartisan progress. Bayh also serves on the Board of Directors of the National Endowment for Democracy, a non-partisan group that works to promote and strengthen democratic institutions worldwide.”

Now, I ask you, does that sound Presidential?

While we all understand that national politics has evolved greatly and the arcane craft of “ticket balancing” is not what it once was, like when Arkansas Senator Joe T. Robinson was used to “balance” New York Governor (and Roman Catholic) Al Smith, sometimes it helps to have a man on board with a bit of regional appeal.

That brings us around to the Hon. Mark Pryor, Junior Senator from the Natural State of Arkansas. Pryor has gained a certain national attention with his role in the Gang of 14. Of course, I thought he made a huge mistake and it looks like I might have been wrong – again. So, what else is new?

This scheme does not work if either Mike Huckabee or Hillary Clinton heads the tickets of their respective parties. Does anybody think that a couple of guys with ordinary Middle American values might stand a chance? And, guess what? Mark Pryor is popular around here and could probably flip six electoral votes in a close election.

Pryor is not necessarily promoting this line of thought and being Vice President is not the greatest job, unless you happen to be the former chairman of a company making a trainload of money in a country where we just happen to have a major military presence.

Nonetheless, Mark Pryor’s balloon is in the air.