Arkansas Democratic Primary Could Deliver Embarrassing Loss to Obama

Voters in Arkansas and Kentucky are heading to the polls today to vote in state elections and Presidential primaries.

On the Republican side, Mitt Romney is expected to amass large wins over 2 opponents who have suspended their campaigns and a third, Congressman Ron Paul, who is focusing only on amassing delegates at state conventions and party meetings.  Although Paul might perform little better than expected in Kentucky, a state that his son represents in the U.S. Senate, it’s unlikely the presumptive Republican nominee will have to sweat out tonight’s results for more than a minute or two after the polls close.

The same cannot be said about President Obama, where the real curiosity tonight is the Democratic primary in Arkansas.  Little-known Tennessee attorney John Wolfe will appear on the ballot against Obama, and voters unhappy with the President will be without the option to vote uncommitted.  Just weeks after West Virginia Democrats gave 41% of their support to a Federal inmate, Arkansas might actually deliver the President an unthinkable defeat on his road to renomination.  Some limited polling has shown Wolfe withing striking distance and many Republicans are now contemplating strategic cross-over voting to help lift Wolfe to victory and deal the Obama campaign a black eye.

Wolfe, however, will not be able to win any convention delegates even if he somehow carries the state tonight.  The party has determined that the challenger didn’t file all of the required paperwork according to the state party, a problem that has plagued Wolfe over the years in his other bids for office.  Failing to file campaign finance documents in various bids for office, including his current run for President, Wolfe was also blocked from receiving the four delegates he won with a 12% showing in the Louisiana primary in March because he did not file all of the required documents.

Wolfe has threatened to file a lawsuit.

“They’ll be going to Little Rock federal court. I don’t want to litigate. I’m a lawyer. I can draw the papers up. If they want to see what the judge says, that’s fine,” Wolfe said. “I think it’s going to be a very, very close night tomorrow night. I think people are going to be surprised. I think people from Texas are going to hear the echoes from Arkansas.”

Next week’s Texas primary will feature Obama and a trio of opponents on the ballot, including Wolfe.

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