Former President Bill Clinton still carries considerable political weight in his home state of Arkansas, and some of his old friends are hoping it can translate to victory in November.
Politico reports that Clinton has four campaign rallies over two days coming up.
Mike Ross was Clinton's driver during his first gubernatorial campaign and is now seeking that office for himself.
Incumbent Sen. Mark Pryor, who has known Clinton since the 1970s, is facing a tough GOP opponent during a year that Republicans are trying hard to flip the Senate to their control.
Meanwhile in two congressional races, James Lee Witt, who served as Clinton's FEMA director and Patrick Henry Hays are hoping to defeat Republican challengers.
But some state Democrats fear Clinton's sway can go only so far.
"He's well-liked, well-loved, he could win any election he ran for," Sheila Bronfman told Politco. But, the longtime Arkansas Democrat added, "That doesn’t always translate."
Mack McLarty, Clinton's former chief of staff was more optimistic: "Arkansas is personal, it’s special," he said. "He will make a broader case of why these candidates, and he knows them all, are generally good, centrist Democrats. He’ll be able to make the case why their approach to governing is just better for Arkansas."
Clinton's visit is "just getting more people talking about the race," Witt told Politico. "People are telling us it’s exciting to see President Clinton down here doing a fundraiser for you. He does create a lot of excitement, and I’m hoping that excitement will help turn the voters out."
"No one can better turn out the Clinton base than Clinton," Skip Rutherford, dean of the Clinton School of Public Service at the University of Arkansas, added.
Pryor's father, David, who is a former Arkansas governor, said no one knows how Clinton's visit will move "move the needle," but added, "surely it won’t hurt to be seen with Bill Clinton."
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