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Two correspondents say Mike Ross told people at a South Arkansas gathering tonight that he was likely to run for governor now that he had his wife’s blessing.

I’d gotten some vibes in that direction from a 4th District watcher earlier in the day.

Can Republican Light win a Democratic primary? A guy who fought Obamacare and voted to repeal it and who damaged Democrats immeasurably by contributing to, rather than fighting, the hysteria stirred by the Kochs/Tea Party/GOP machine? A gun-waving, anti-abortion, anti-gay opportunist who went wobbly on labor issues when the going got tough, despite union’s work for him over the years?

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The political insiders — who don’t like announced Democratic candidate Bill Halter to begin with — solemnly declare that Ross can win because he’s more “electable.” Political insiders might vote on electability (forgetting for a minute whether this notion is valid to begin with). I think voters are more likely to be motivated by issues. Principles count, too. Other than a passion for getting elected, Mike Ross, the recently minted lobbyist, hasn’t demonstrated many of the latter.

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