LITTLE ROCK -- Arkansas' lieutenant governor suggested Wednesday that marketing this year's presidential candidates is like selling a truck -- say good things about your product and point out shortcomings about the other guy's offerings.
Some speakers at the Republican National Convention on Tuesday spent as much time, if not more, criticizing presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton as they did talking up the Republicans' candidate, Donald Trump.
Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson and Attorney General Leslie Rutledge each mentioned the Democratic candidate by name often, and Lt. Gov. Tim Griffin said they were just making comparisons.
"Not to get too simple, but have you ever watched a Ford truck commercial? They'll tell you how great the truck is, and then they compare it to Chevy and Dodge," Griffin said Wednesday.
"All the candidates will say they are good leaders. You have to say how you are different," Griffin said. "You have to compare."
Rutledge addressed delegates for four minutes and spent a considerable amount of time speaking against Clinton, a former Arkansas first lady.
"It was fantastic to be on a national stage to (tell Americans) she does not need to be back in the White House," Rutledge said.
While Republicans have been asked at their convention this week about the level of their support for Trump -- or about his previous inflammatory remarks -- Democrats should face something similar next week, Rutledge said.
"How can you support someone who has had an FBI investigation?" she said. The agency found "that, as Americans, she put us at risk by putting a server in her home. She is not qualified. I proudly stand with Donald Trump."
Griffin said part of the convention atmosphere is intended to get people excited.
"It's particularly easy when you have a candidate who has been called extremely reckless by the FBI," Griffin said of Clinton.
The FBI called Clinton's email practices "careless" but the Justice Department said there wasn't enough evidence to file charges.
State Desk on 07/21/2016