Professional commentators in the state, though, do care. Political columnists have been aimless in the weeks since the 2001 regular session of the Arkansas General Assembly adjourned. But writing about elections is fun. It's gossipy and breezy, and you can sound like an insider. Journalists are never insiders.
Good pundits are veteran reporters first.
They can cite facts, often directly observed. Me, all I know is what they or the straight-news hounds write. Here is my score on the likely candidates. State Rep. Jim Hendren, R-Sulphur Springs. Many religious conservatives have run in then backtracked out until this Hutchinson relative clearly declared his intention last week.