TOM COTTON: His resume gets a workout from critic.

  • TOM COTTON: His resume gets a workout from critic.

I wrote yesterday about Mike Huckabee’s endorsement of Beth Anne Rankin in the Republican primary race for 4th District Congress over Tom Cotton and John Cowart. He took aim at Cotton, who decamped Arkansas after high school 17 years ago and returned only a year or so ago to seek a congressional seat. He’s the best financed candidate in the race, thanks to D.C. and eastern support.

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My item drew a rare compliment from an anonymous reader on the Republican side of the fence. The reader, a Rankin supporter, contributed a further analysis of Cotton’s resume. It picks at the military credentials Cotton has touted as well as his education at elite institutions and his newfound interest in farming. It also appeals to regionalism within the district. These angles could be productive; but they also carry an obvious potential for backlash. Comparative evaluation of military service is particularly risky business. Service is service, even most in the military will say. Some people, me among them, don’t resent those who choose Harvard or Claremont for advanced education.

I pass it along to give you an idea of what’s bubbling just below the surfaces in this hard-fought race.

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BUT FIRST: Talk Business has just published results of polling in this race. Dead heat between Cotton and Rankin — 38.5 to 38.5 in a survey of 542 likely Republican primary voters. Cowart at 4 percent. 19 percent don’t know.

ALSO: GOP candidates will debate in event staged by Young Republicans at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Hot Springs Convention Center.

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