Pryor Named To Lead State Democrats

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -- Former Arkansas Gov. and U.S. Senator David Pryor will lead the state Democratic Party through the end of the year after the shooting death of Chairman Bill Gwatney.

The announcement Saturday by the party, still reeling from the unexplained August killing, comes as what could be a tight presidential election looms ahead. Pryor acknowledges Democrats would be "a little bit challenged" by former Republican colleague Sen. John McCain in a state won by President George W. Bush in 2000 and 2004.

However, Pryor said a visit to the state by Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama could prove to be the difference.

Obama last visited Arkansas in 2006 to help campaign for Governor Mike Beebe. His campaign has yet to open a general election office in the state.

Members of the state party's executive committee said they would follow tradition and allow Beebe, a Democrat, to recommend a new chairman after Gwatney's death. Beebe said he called Pryor a few days before leaving for the Democratic National Convention in Denver to ask him to fill the position.

Under party rules, the party's vice chairman must call a meeting of the party's state committee within 60 days of a vacancy of the chairmanship. The party has not yet called that meeting or formally voted to endorse Pryor for the position, though it will more than likely be approved.