Bam. The great hope of the AR Democratic party just imploded...
Arkansas Attorney General Dustin McDaniel, a Democrat and the only announced candidate for governor in 2014, admitted Tuesday that he had an inappropriate relationship with a Hot Springs attorney after court documents were filed alleging they had a sexual affair. McDaniel, who has been married since June 2009, said he had a relationship with Andrea L. Davis, but would not offer details.
In many states a simple affair wouldn't be all that damaging, but in socially conservative and deeply religious Arkansas it's a major handicap if you're not named Clinton. Sen. Tim Hutchinson (R) was defeated in 2002 largely because of his own affair. McDaniel has said he would not end his gubernatorial campaign, but this announcement will certainly leave the AR Dem party looking for other options. ex-LG Bill Halter and Transportation commissioner John Burkhalter now look like Democrats' best bets, but neither is likely to be as strong as McDaniel was.
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