Changes

==Gubernatorial bid==

==Gubernatorial bid==

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In 1978, Lowe, midway in his tenure as state party chairman, ran unopposed for the party's gubernatorial nomination. No other prominent figure stepped forward for the task of challenging Bill Clinton, who had been unopposed in the general election of 1976 for the office of state attorney general. Many seemed to have thought that Clinton had won the governorship merely by winning the Democratic nomination. Clinton supported the [[Equal Rights Amendment]] to the [[United States Constitution]], which was never ratified by the Arkansas legislature or the required number of states. He declared the matter a "dead issue" in Arkansas though ratification]] s still being sought on the national level by the administration of President [[Jimmy Carter]].<ref>''Congressional Quarterly Weekly Report,'' May 20, 1978, p. 1233.</ref>

In 1978, Lowe, midway in his tenure as state party chairman, ran unopposed for the party's gubernatorial nomination. No other prominent figure stepped forward for the task of challenging Bill Clinton, who had been unopposed in the general election of 1976 for the office of state attorney general. Many seemed to have thought that Clinton had won the governorship merely by winning the Democratic nomination. Clinton supported the [[Equal Rights Amendment]] to the [[United States Constitution]], which was never ratified by the Arkansas legislature or the required number of states. He declared the matter a "dead issue" in Arkansas though ratification is still being pursued on the national level by the administration of President [[Jimmy Carter]].<ref>''Congressional Quarterly Weekly Report,'' May 20, 1978, p. 1233.</ref>

Lowe found few issues on which to challenge Clinton until the Democrat announced his opposition to a [[referendum]] to remove the state [[sales tax]] on groceries and prescription drugs. Clinton determined that the state could not afford to lose the $60 million then procured from the sales tax. Lowe noted a $40 million state surplus and urged repeal of the taxes.<ref name="Congressional Quarterly Weekly Report 1978">''Congressional Quarterly Weekly Report,'' October 14, 1978, p. 2804.</ref> Not only did Clinton defeat Lowe, but the removal of the sales taxes failed, 55-45 percent. Arkansans were more in tune with higher taxes than Lowe had judged.<ref>State of Arkansas, Secretary of State, Election returns, November 7, 1978.</ref>

Lowe found few issues on which to challenge Clinton until the Democrat announced his opposition to a [[referendum]] to remove the state [[sales tax]] on groceries and prescription drugs. Clinton determined that the state could not afford to lose the $60 million then procured from the sales tax. Lowe noted a $40 million state surplus and urged repeal of the taxes.<ref name="Congressional Quarterly Weekly Report 1978">''Congressional Quarterly Weekly Report,'' October 14, 1978, p. 2804.</ref> Not only did Clinton defeat Lowe, but the removal of the sales taxes failed, 55-45 percent. Arkansans were more in tune with higher taxes than Lowe had judged.<ref>State of Arkansas, Secretary of State, Election returns, November 7, 1978.</ref>