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[[University of Wisconsin]] at [[Madison]]}}​

[[University of Wisconsin]] at [[Madison]]}}​

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'''James Lewis Ranchino''', known as '''Jim Ranchino''' (pronounced RAN KEY NO) ( April 20, 1936 &ndash; November 7, 1978), was a pollster, political consultant, and [[Political Science|political scientist]] on the faculty of Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia, [[Arkansas]]. He died of a massive heat attack at the age of forty-two while awaiting to appear on KATV-TV, the [[ABC]] affiliate in [[Little Rock]] on the night of the 1978 [[general election]].<ref name=rnelson>{{cite web|url=http://www.rexnelsonsouthernfried.com/?p=955|title=Election Night|publisher=rexnelsonsouthernfried.com|accessdate=September 1, 2013}}</ref>​

'''James Lewis Ranchino''', known as '''Jim Ranchino''' (pronounced RAN KEY NO) (April 20, 1936 &ndash; November 7, 1978), was a pollster, political consultant, and [[Political Science|political scientist]] on the faculty of Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia, [[Arkansas]]. He died of a massive heat attack at the age of forty-two while awaiting to appear on KATV-TV, the [[ABC]] affiliate in [[Little Rock]] on the night of the 1978 [[general election]].<ref name=rnelson>{{cite web|url=http://www.rexnelsonsouthernfried.com/?p=955|title=Election Night|publisher=rexnelsonsouthernfried.com|accessdate=September 1, 2013}}</ref>​

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Ranchino was an avid supporter of his fellow [[Democratic Party|Democrat]], future [[U.S. President]] [[Bill Clinton]],<ref name=amarcus/> who that night easily defeated the [[Republican Party|Republican]] [[Lynn Lowe]] to win the first of five non-consecutive terms as [[governor]] of Arkansas.

Ranchino was an avid supporter of his fellow [[Democratic Party|Democrat]], future [[U.S. President]] [[Bill Clinton]],<ref name=amarcus/> who that night easily defeated the [[Republican Party|Republican]] [[Lynn Lowe]] to win the first of five non-consecutive terms as [[governor]] of Arkansas.

==Background==

==Background==

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Ranchino was one of five children born in Herrin in Williamson County in southern [[Illinois]] to Angelo "Comp" Ranchino (1908-1988), of [[Italy|Italian]] descent, and the former Esther Verna.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://williamson.illinoisgenweb.org/marriage.html|title=Williamson County Marriage Project|publisher=Williamson.illinoisgenweb.org|accessdate=September 1, 2013}}</ref> His siblings were three sisters, Alma Joy Hise (1928-2010) of Herrin,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.meredithwaddell.com/p/whatNew.php?whatnewID=177 |archive-url=https://archive.is/20130902171706/http://www.meredithwaddell.com/p/whatNew.php?whatnewID=177 |dead-url=yes |archive-date=September 2, 2013 |title=Alma Joy Hise |publisher=meredithwaddell.com |accessdate=September 1, 2013 }}</ref> Mariann R. Hunt (1933-2010), of [[Des Moines]], [[Iowa]],<ref name=hunt>{{cite web|url=http://www.ilesfuneralhomes.com/obituary/Mariann-Hunt/Des-Moines-IA/856869|title=Mariann Hunt|publisher=ilesfuneralhomes.com|accessdate=September 1, 2013}}</ref> and Cheryl Ranchino Trench, a newspaper columnist in Herrin,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.herrinillinois.com/?page_id=653|title=Cheryl Ranchino Trench|publisher=herrinillinois.com|accessdate=September 1, 2013}}</ref> and a brother, John Edward Ranchino, who died in infancy.<ref name=hunt/> Ranchino and his wife, Veda, had two children, Tony A. Ranchino (born 1969), a photojournalist for KATV, where his father collapsed, and Nicole "Niki" R. Jackson (born 1971), who was seven at the time of her father's death and operates a children's camp. After her husband's early death, Veda continued to live in Clark County and the next year married local prosecuting attorney Henry Morgan.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2008/apr/06/frontampcenter-niki-jackson-20080406/|title=Spencer Watson, Niki Jackson, April 6, 2008|publisher=arkansasonline.com|accessdate=September 1, 2013}}</ref>​

Ranchino was one of five children born in Herrin in Williamson County in southern [[Illinois]] to Angelo "Comp" Ranchino (1908-1988), of [[Italy|Italian]] descent, and the former Esther Verna.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://williamson.illinoisgenweb.org/marriage.html|title=Williamson County Marriage Project|publisher=Williamson.illinoisgenweb.org|accessdate=September 1, 2013}}</ref> His siblings were three sisters, Alma Joy Hise (1928-2010) of Herrin,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.meredithwaddell.com/p/whatNew.php?whatnewID=177 |archive-url=https://archive.is/20130902171706/http://www.meredithwaddell.com/p/whatNew.php?whatnewID=177 |dead-url=yes |archive-date=September 2, 2013 |title=Alma Joy Hise |publisher=meredithwaddell.com |accessdate=September 1, 2013 }}</ref> Mariann R. Hunt (1933-2010), of [[Des Moines]], [[Iowa]],<ref name=hunt>{{cite web|url=http://www.ilesfuneralhomes.com/obituary/Mariann-Hunt/Des-Moines-IA/856869|title=Mariann Hunt|publisher=ilesfuneralhomes.com|accessdate=September 1, 2013}}</ref> and Cheryl Ranchino Trench, a newspaper columnist in Herrin,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.herrinillinois.com/?page_id=653|title=Cheryl Ranchino Trench|publisher=herrinillinois.com|accessdate=September 1, 2013}}</ref> and a brother, John Edward Ranchino, who died in infancy.<ref name=hunt/>  

 

Ranchino and his wife, Veda, had two children, Tony A. Ranchino (born 1969), a photojournalist for KATV, where his father collapsed, and Nicole "Niki" R. Jackson (born 1971), who was seven at the time of her father's death and operates a children's camp. After her husband's early death, Veda continued to live in Clark County and the next year married local prosecuting attorney Henry Morgan.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2008/apr/06/frontampcenter-niki-jackson-20080406/|title=Spencer Watson, Niki Jackson, April 6, 2008|publisher=arkansasonline.com|accessdate=September 1, 2013}}</ref>​

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Ranchino graduated in 1954 from Herrin High School. In 1961, he received a [[Bachelor of Arts]] from [[Southern Baptist]]-affiliated [[Louisiana College]], a [[conservative]] institution  in [[Pineville, Louisiana|Pineville]], [[Louisiana]].<ref name="obu-bulletin">[https://scholarlycommons.obu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1034&context=catalogs ''Ouachita Baptist University General Bulletin 1969–1970''], Ouachita Baptist University, p. 17.</ref> In 1963 or 1964, he received his [[Master of Arts]] in history from [[Texas Christian University]] in [[Fort Worth]], [[Texas]]; his thesis is entitled "The Work and Thought of a Jeffersonian in the Populist Movement: James Harvey 'Cyclone' Davis" and is a study of the [[Populism|populist]] organizer and Democratic [[U.S. Representative]] James "Cyclone" Davis of Texas.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100625065305/http://clio.missouristate.edu/wrmiller/Populism/Texts/Documents/Bibliography/biography.htm|title=James "Cyclone Davis|accessdate=June 25, 2010}}</ref> He studied graduate political science and also history from 1963 to 1965 under the [[liberal]] historian William Appleman Williams,<ref name=rmoore>{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/Da-Ali-Show-Compleet-Seereez/dp/B002OID4WM|title=By Robert Moore - Published on Amazon.com|publisher=amazon.co.uk|accessdate=September 1, 2013}}</ref> during his time at the [[University of Wisconsin]] in the capital city of [[Madison, Wisconsin|Madison]], [[Wisconsin]].<ref name="obu-bulletin"/> Despite his Louisiana College experience, Ranchino was described as a "campus radical".<ref name=amarcus>{{cite web|url=https://www.questia.com/library/1G1-229834253/bill-clinton-in-arkansas-generational-politics-the|title=Alan Marcus, Bill Clinton in Arkansas: Generational Politics, the Technology of Political Communication and the Permanent Campaign|publisher=''The Historian'' (Vol. 72, No. 2)|accessdate=September 1, 2013}}</ref>​

Ranchino graduated in 1954 from Herrin High School. In 1961, he received a [[Bachelor of Arts]] from [[Southern Baptist]]-affiliated [[Louisiana College]], a [[conservative]] institution  in [[Pineville, Louisiana|Pineville]], [[Louisiana]].<ref name="obu-bulletin">[https://scholarlycommons.obu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1034&context=catalogs ''Ouachita Baptist University General Bulletin 1969–1970''], Ouachita Baptist University, p. 17.</ref> In 1963 or 1964, he received his [[Master of Arts]] in history from [[Texas Christian University]] in [[Fort Worth]], [[Texas]]; his thesis is entitled "The Work and Thought of a Jeffersonian in the Populist Movement: James Harvey 'Cyclone' Davis" and is a study of the [[Populism|populist]] organizer and Democratic [[U.S. Representative]] James "Cyclone" Davis of Texas.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100625065305/http://clio.missouristate.edu/wrmiller/Populism/Texts/Documents/Bibliography/biography.htm|title=James "Cyclone Davis|accessdate=June 25, 2010}}</ref> He studied graduate political science and also history from 1963 to 1965 under the [[liberal]] historian William Appleman Williams,<ref name=rmoore>{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/Da-Ali-Show-Compleet-Seereez/dp/B002OID4WM|title=By Robert Moore - Published on Amazon.com|publisher=amazon.co.uk|accessdate=September 1, 2013}}</ref> during his time at the [[University of Wisconsin]] in the capital city of [[Madison, Wisconsin|Madison]], [[Wisconsin]].<ref name="obu-bulletin"/> Despite his Louisiana College experience, Ranchino was described as a "campus radical".<ref name=amarcus>{{cite web|url=https://www.questia.com/library/1G1-229834253/bill-clinton-in-arkansas-generational-politics-the|title=Alan Marcus, Bill Clinton in Arkansas: Generational Politics, the Technology of Political Communication and the Permanent Campaign|publisher=''The Historian'' (Vol. 72, No. 2)|accessdate=September 1, 2013}}</ref>​

Republicans [prior to the 1990s] never had a party in Arkansas in the strictest sense. They have not offered consistent opposition to the Democrats at all levels of government and have frequently opted out for individual efforts and campaigns at the expense of the broad party-oriented effort.<br>​

Republicans [prior to the 1990s] never had a party in Arkansas in the strictest sense. They have not offered consistent opposition to the Democrats at all levels of government and have frequently opted out for individual efforts and campaigns at the expense of the broad party-oriented effort.<br>​

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… Whichever way the moderate vote leans in any specific election does make the essential difference between victory or defeat for the candidates. ... There is "no emerging Republican majority" (a term coined in 1969 by [[Kevin Phillips]]) in Arkansas built on a coalition of blue-collar, middle-class Democrats and upper-class traditional Republicans. The success that Republicans have had in Arkansas has come from a moderate liberal coalition based on blacks and [[Progressivism|progressive]] Democrats. That combination was shattered in 1970. ...<ref>Ranchino, ''From Faubus to Bumpers'', pp. 91-92.</ref></blockquote>​

… Whichever way the moderate vote leans in any specific election does make the essential difference between victory or defeat for the candidates. ... There is "no emerging Republican majority" (a term coined in 1969 by Kevin Phillips) in Arkansas built on a coalition of blue-collar, middle-class Democrats and upper-class traditional Republicans. The success that Republicans have had in Arkansas has come from a moderate liberal coalition based on blacks and [[Progressivism|progressive]] Democrats. That combination was shattered in 1970. ...<ref>Ranchino, ''From Faubus to Bumpers'', pp. 91-92.</ref></blockquote>​

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In 1976, Ranchino attributed the Democratic presidential nomination of former Governor [[Jimmy Carter]] of [[Georgia]] to Carter's young pollster, [[Patrick Caddell]], who advised the candidate to accent the "trust factor," rather than highlighting various temporary campaign issues. Ranchino called his fellow pollster Caddell "the best in the country."<ref>''The Blytheville, Arkansas, Courier News,'' June 11, 1976, p. 3.</ref>​

In 1976, Ranchino attributed the Democratic presidential nomination of former Governor [[Jimmy Carter]] of [[Georgia]] to Carter's young pollster, [[Pat Caddell]], who advised the candidate to accent the "trust factor," rather than highlighting various temporary campaign issues. Ranchino called his fellow pollster Caddell "the best in the country."<ref>''The Blytheville, Arkansas, Courier News,'' June 11, 1976, p. 3.</ref>​

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In September 1977, the cover of the ''Arkansas Times'' news magazine carried an article by Ranchino, "The Arkansas of the '70s: The Good Ole Boy Ain't Whut He Used to Be," which reflects on the increasing use of [[marijuana]], pre-marital sexual relations, and unfaithfulness to marriage vows "becoming more the rule than the exception".<ref>Jim Ranchino, "The Arkansas of the '70s: The Good Ole Boy Ain't Whut He Used to Be." ''Arkansas Times,'' September 1977, p. 40.</ref> The article was published at the height of [[Anita Bryant]]'s "Save the Children" campaign against [[homosexual]] rights in [[Miami]], [[Florida]]. Ranchino wrote that many in Arkansas had by the late 1970s already been viewing the decline of family values with growing anxiety.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.scribd.com/doc/22315057/A-Crime-Unfit-to-Be-Named|author=W. Brock Thompson|title="Crime Unfit to be Named: Arkansas and Sodomy|publisher=''Arkansas Historical Quarterly'' (Autumn 2002), p. 263-264|accessdate=September 1, 2013}}</ref>

In September 1977, the cover of the ''Arkansas Times'' news magazine carried an article by Ranchino, "The Arkansas of the '70s: The Good Ole Boy Ain't Whut He Used to Be," which reflects on the increasing use of [[marijuana]], pre-marital sexual relations, and unfaithfulness to marriage vows "becoming more the rule than the exception".<ref>Jim Ranchino, "The Arkansas of the '70s: The Good Ole Boy Ain't Whut He Used to Be." ''Arkansas Times,'' September 1977, p. 40.</ref> The article was published at the height of [[Anita Bryant]]'s "Save the Children" campaign against [[homosexual]] rights in [[Miami]], [[Florida]]. Ranchino wrote that many in Arkansas had by the late 1970s already been viewing the decline of family values with growing anxiety.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.scribd.com/doc/22315057/A-Crime-Unfit-to-Be-Named|author=W. Brock Thompson|title="Crime Unfit to be Named: Arkansas and Sodomy|publisher=''Arkansas Historical Quarterly'' (Autumn 2002), p. 263-264|accessdate=September 1, 2013}}</ref>