The Tolbert Report

On Tuesday, Max Brantley hinted at the fact that Republican State Senator Kim Hendren may be looking at moving from the Arkansas Senate to the U.S. Senate by challenging incumbent Democrat Blanche Lincoln in 2010.  So I decided to go all old school Brummett-style and actually ask Sen. Hendren directly if there was anything to it.  In my defense, I did it via email.

Sen. Hendren neither confirmed nor denied it to me but I think his response was hinting that it is at least a possibility.  In his email, Sen. Hendren told me, “Sometimes I think that Washington could, perhaps, use a bit of adult supervision by someone who has been involved in a government that has worked for the general public!”  He also pointed out that Arkansas voters are generally in favor of term limits on the state and federal level and that in his views 12 years was plenty long enough for Sen. Lincoln.

I asked him to clarify if this means he is thinking about running but I think you can read between the lines that the idea has crossed his mind.  So for those of you keeping score at home, the rumored list now includes Kim Hendren, Tim Griffin, Rick Calhoun, French Hill, Gilbert Baker, and Tom Cotton.  Between all these names, it is good to know that someone will be taking on Sen. Lincoln next year and we will not see a repeat of last year when Sen. Mark Pryor ran unopposed.