Ernie Dumas this week writes about the stark philosophical divide facing Arkansas voters in 2014 — a choice between Republicans who essentially view government as evil and Democrats who believe government can do good works.

If that were the only debate, Dumas writes, the Democrats have some good candidates to make the case — from Mike Ross, who favored a better version of health care expansion; to Sen. Mark Pryor, who’s tried to bridge the partisan divide in Washington; to congressional candidates James Lee Witt, who saved FEMA, and Patrick Henry Hays, a successful mayor.

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The Democrats have perfect opponents, too. such as Tom Cotton. But ….. 

Sen. Mark Pryor’s case for re-election is that, nearly alone in the U. S. Senate, he tried to bridge the gulf between the parties and make Congress work. He is blessed by the perfect opponent, Tom Cotton. While saying occasionally he didn’t want a government shutdown or debt default, Cotton worked hard to achieve them. Cotton’s team will be photoshopping Barack Obama’s arm around Pryor, not his friend Mike Beebe’s. Pryor voted for Obamacare and he has not been Obama’s permanent enemy, which may be all that counts in Arkansas.

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