Tom Cotton, taking a page from Bill Clinton’s book, is set to take a road trip around Arkansas. A campaign announcement calls it the Arkansas First Bus Tour.

He’ll actually be riding an RV around to meet and greet. I suggest he pull up to the Hillcrest Farmers Market Saturday morning, right behind one of the food trucks, and sit a spell. He’d have to add a stop to the initial schedule to accomplish this, but he says he’ll keep traveling through Nov. 4 election day. So there’s time.

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I suggest he follow John Steinbeck’s pattern and bring a dog along. Those are always good for striking up conversations. His aides says he’s an engaging fellow, simply intellectually superior to the rest of us. A slobbery mutt could create a little goodwill transfer. But no cats, please.

The news release managed to wait until paragraph 3 to mention Barack Obama. But then it worked it in three times.

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We’ll let him buy an ad for future schedules, but as a courtesy, here’s the first round of stops:

Thursday, August 7th

6:00 p.m. – Young Republican Meet-and-Greet in Little Rock (Cajun’s Wharf Restaurant, 2400 Cantrell Rd, Little Rock, AR) NOTE: This event is a grassroots fundraiser. Tickets are $50.

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Friday, August 8th

8:00 a.m. – Campaign Breakfast in Clarksville (South Park Restaurant, 1303 South Rogers Street, Clarksville, AR)

12:00 p.m. – Arkansas Cattlemen’s Association Convention Luncheon (Fort Smith Convention Center, 700 Rogers Ave, Fort Smith, AR)

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5:00 p.m. – Hope Lion’s Club Fish Fry (Fair Park, Community Center, Hope, AR)

Saturday, August 9th

7:30 a.m. – Hope Watermelon Festival 5K Race (Fair Park, corner of S. Mockingbird Lane and Park Drive, Hope, AR)

10:30 a.m. – Volunteer Rally in Hope (Fair Park, Corner of Park Drive & S. Mockingbird Lane, Hope, AR)

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11:30 a.m. – Hope Watermelon Festival Watermelon Eating Contest (Fair Park, BancorpSouth Stage, Hope, AR)

1:30 p.m. – Arkansas First Tour stop in Camden (First Baptist Church Parking Lot, Across from 348 W. Washington Street, Camden, AR)

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3:00 p.m. – Arkansas First Tour stop in Hampton (Corner of Dunn Avenue & N. Lee Street/Highway 167, Hampton, AR)

5:00 p.m. – Arkansas First Tour stop in Monticello (Monticello Square, Across from Panorama Italian Restaurant, 200 N. Main Street, Monticello, AR)

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