‘Quiet’ phase of campaigning set for summer
Face-to-face retail politics, as it is called, is still the true barometer of evaluating a candidate and whether or not he or she is interested in you, the voter, and your concerns.
After the May 22 Primary Election, politics will not enter the “quiet” phase of campaigning in Arkansas.
Some will lick their wounds of not collecting all the votes they wanted from their like-minded party participants. This will result, as in Gov. Asa Hutchinson’s corner of the world, into refining his message a bit harder to the right to draw back those wayward votes that went for Jan Morgan back on May 22.
He will recover those votes, for at least most of them that will show up for the November general election, just give him time to do so.
The winner of the Party Primaries will no doubt go on to victory in the fall, but few have substantial opposition, save a few races around the state.
But this is a time for candidates to work the crowds at events, court and woo donors and refine that time old tradition of eating a lot of barbeque, pancakes and funnel cakes. Thankfully not all three items are on the same menu at the same time of the day.
Things normally kick off with the All-Tomato Luncheon at the Warren Pink Tomato Festival in early June down in Southeast Arkansas. The winning governor for the last four decades has made this political tradition, so far the only politician to eschew that tradition (and win) has been Tom Cotton, our very loud and verbose U.S. Senator.
Sen. Cotton, per rumor, did not (a) know about the political tradition and (b) knew he would not be asked to speak, so he did not attend the All-Tomato Luncheon when on the campaign trail for U.S. Senate.
But all the other statewide candidates will be there, along with the Portia Picnic, the Magnolia Steak Fry and countless other celebrations, events and festivals this summer.
Local candidates will saddle up and ride in both of the Rodeo of the Ozarks parades and also appear at pancake breakfasts at rural firehouses all over the Washington and Benton County side roads. Also many will be at the area Senior Centers in time to call a round of Bingo or participate in many of the dances and Meals on Wheels deliveries in the
days ahead.
And in truth, we expect these candidates, who so desire our votes, to show up, ask for our vote (even when unopposed) and listen.
Some great legislative ideas can come from these gatherings of people interested in our fellow man or exactly how our government operates.
There will also be a bevy of private fund-raisers, friend-raisers and other events to collect money for these politicians to buy campaign signs, send out mailers and purchase advertisements in the local weekly newspapers which we all read and glean information from — even in this electronic age.
Attend these events when invited or asked to attend.
It can broaden your view of the candidates and it can only help those who are running for office to hear you, shake your hand and tell you what they really have in mind by running for office.
It is hard, if not extremely difficult, to learn about a candidate from an e-mail, Facebook or YouTube online.
Face-to-face retail politics, as it is called, is still the true barometer of evaluating a candidate and whether or not he or she is interested in you, the voter, and your concerns.
The late U.S. Senator Dale Bumpers, perhaps the best retail politician — even over that young President Bill Clinton — said it best.
There is nothing like getting out and meeting the voters to see how you are doing, Bumpers would say.
It either made you glad you did what you did, or it made you go back to work to get it right.
Visit with the politicians face to face in these next six and a-half-months until November.
You will be glad you did. And they will be as well.