Why didn't Mike Beebe Challenge John Boozman in 2016?

[Co-Chair Bagel23]

Seriously, this infuriated me. He would have a real fighting chance. I think Beebe would have won, who do you think would have won?

Edit 1: I also would have voted for him if he did run and if I could.

[Kamala]

I think the election would've gone down almost like Ohio - initially Beebe would be polling strongly, more likely to beat Boozman than not, but then, by Election Day, the polarization of the state would simply be too strong. Gubernatorial elections are a lot less partisan than Senate ones, and Beebe, even with his popularity, would've lost to Boozman. I mean, look at Pryor's blanching.

[President of the great nation of 🏳️‍⚧️]

Would vote for Beebe like a hack, but like Kamala, I don't think he'd pull it off.

[Co-Chair Bagel23]

I think he could pull a Joe Manchin

[smoltchanov]

I think he could pull a Joe Manchin

I would vote vor him at once, but it becme too difficult for a Democrat (even conservatively inclined) to win in states like Arkansas, where whites begin to vote as solid block. The only counterexample that comes to mind is Louisiana, but there were a unique circumstances there...

[President Punxsutawney Phil]

Would vote for Beebe like a hack, but like Kamala, I don't think he'd pull it off.

[Kingpoleon]

I think Beebe might have had a chance against Cotton, as Boozman is a more powerful opponent.

[Heisenberg]

I think Beebe might have had a chance against Cotton, as Boozman is a more powerful opponent.

If Democrats were smart they'd have tried to get Pryor to step aside and Beebe to run instead. Boozman would've been running as an inoffensive GOP incumbent in a state that's R+15 or something, nearly everything is on his side. Polarization has gotten so bad that Boozman saying "Governor Beebe did a great job running our state but do you really want Chuck Schumer to be Majority Leader" would, along with Trump's landslide win in the state, put him over the top.

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

"Why didn't Brad Henry challenge Tom Coburn in 2010?"