LITTLE ROCK -- When Arkansas' delegates gather in Philadelphia for the Democratic National Convention this week, they'll cast votes for a nominee the state claims as its adopted daughter. They also hope having Hillary Clinton at the top of the ticket will energize a state party that's been routed by Republicans over the past three elections.
Arkansas hasn't gone Democratic in a presidential election since native son Bill Clinton won a second term in 1996, and Democratic President Barack Obama remains deeply unpopular in the state.
But, while stopping short of predicting a victory in the presidential election, top Democrats headed to the convention say they hope Hillary Clinton's nomination could help reverse the party's recent fortunes.
"On a statewide level, I think sometimes folks ought to take into account the benefits a home state gets from having a personal connection to the White House," state Party Chairman Vince Insalaco said. "I think it will be very helpful for us in terms of getting some things done for the Democratic Party."
The Clintons remain a popular draw among Democrats in Arkansas, where Bill Clinton served 12 years as governor. The former president headlined the state party's Jefferson Jackson Dinner earlier this month, and Hillary Clinton addressed the same event last year.
But the party is in a much weaker position than it was during the Clinton years. Republicans over the past three election cycles have become the majority party in Arkansas, sweeping all statewide and congressional office as well as controlling both chambers of the Legislature. After eight years of Republicans trying Democrats to Obama, party leaders say having someone who has lived in Arkansas will help especially in down-ballot races.
"Our candidates for state office and county office will start with a substantially better position in terms of the popularity at the top of the ticket," said former Attorney General Dustin McDaniel, a national committeeman and superdelegate.
Delegates say they also believe the convention will draw a contrast between Clinton and Republican nominee Donald Trump. Clinton and Trump won their respective primaries in the state in March, but the state's top Republicans had backed Trump's rivals during the primary campaign. By contrast, Clinton had the backing of the state's top Democrats in her bid against primary rival Bernie Sanders.
State Sen. Joyce Elliott said the convention is exciting not just for the home state ties, but also for the history of Democrats nominating a woman for the highest office in the land.
"It is absolutely exciting that America who is looked upon as being the world leader will finally be poised to nominate a woman," Elliott, a superdelegate and Clinton supporter, said. "It's exhilarating to think that we have a possibility of filling that void in our history."
The convention will be a bittersweet affair for Sanders supporters. Sarah Scanlon, a delegate who was the Arkansas director for the Vermont senator's campaign, said she believed his campaign helped shape the issues Democrats are running on such as income inequality and climate change. She said she hoped Clinton would continue focusing on those issues.
"I think we need to continue to shore up our Democratic base and give people reason to be strong Democrats and continue to talk about those issues that are central to democratic ideals," Scanlon said.
State Desk on 07/25/2016