No, this isn’t breaking news.  But reviewing the results of an Opinion Research poll commissioned by UCA President Lu Hardin for a course he’s teaching, Governor Beebe enjoys an 82% approval rating.  He outpaces Senator Mark Pryor (with arguably the most well known and well liked political name in Arkansas history) by 10 points.  Pryor holds a 72% approval rating.

Not so good news for Arkansas’s other Senator Blanche Lincoln who has merely a 60% approval rating.  Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee is liked by 65% of Arkansans.  Many have speculated that Huckabee would return in 2010 to challenge Lincoln.  This poll should bolster that speculation.

If the presidential race were held today, Hillary Clinton beats John McCain 51% - 36%.  However, McCain beats Barack Obama 43% - 27% (although 26% remain undecided).

Which begs the question: shouldn’t the popular Governor of Arkansas, a red state in 2000 and 2004, be on the short list of running mates?  Sure, you might suggest that Clinton’s going to carry Arkansas regardless, and that may be true. But adding Beebe would lock it down.
And if Obama’s the nominee, much of the south is in play (Mississippi, Louisiana and Georgia, particularly).  Why not add a popular Governor with a wealth of accomplishments to the ticket?  You don’t think rural Democrats ambivalent about Obama wouldn’t come on board?

Beebe was born in Amagon, Arkansas, population 95 at the 2000 census and graduated from high school in Newport (population 7,811 at the 2000 census) before heading to Arkansas State University and the University of Arkansas School of Law.  He also served in the U.S. Army Reserve.