Democrat Mike Beebe, the state’s attorney general, had $1.67 million on hand at the end of September, compared to $580,764 for Hutchinson, a former congressman and Homeland Security undersecretary. A recent Arkansas News Bureau-Stephens Media poll showed Beebe with 56 percent support and Hutchinson at 38 percent. A Rasmussen Reports poll released Monday had Beebe leading 49 to 41 percent.   Hutchinson said the polls were tightening and he was poised for a come-from-behind win.

“It seems pretty fishy to be politicking in Washington eight days before an election in Arkansas,” said Beebe spokesman Zac Wright. ” … With just about a week left, Mike Beebe is turning to Arkansans across the state for the support to pass the finish line. Asa Hutchinson is in Washington, D.C., squeezing his buddies for one more dollar to fund his negative campaign.”

Hutchinson defended his Washington trip, saying he just completed a 60-city bus tour and would go back to campaigning in the state when he returned to Arkansas late Monday.”I’m doing what I think I need to do to win this race and to help do something good for Arkansas farmers,” he said. “You’ve got to raise money. You’ve got to campaign grassroots and I’m doing all that.”