The Arkansas Times highlights a bright shining future star for the GOP:

“My life pretty much changed overnight.”

That’s how native Arkansan Princella Smith describes speaking at the 2004 Republican National Convention at the age of 20.

She got to the stage by winning a speech contest sponsored by MTV called “Stand Up and Holla,” and soon found herself thrust into the national spotlight as a rising star of the GOP.

Looking at her record, it’s no surprise that Smith has climbed the Republican ranks so quickly. Between her junior and senior year at Wynne High School, Smith was elected governor of Girls State, a summer leadership program sponsored by the American Legion. She then took on internships with then-Gov. Mike Huckabee and then-Lt. Gov. Win Rockefeller. She worked as the e-campaign director in Maryland Republican Michael Steele’s bid for the Senate in 2006, and now works as the chief spokesperson for American Solutions in Washington, D.C., an organization started by Newt Gingrich.

Like Steele, Smith is both African-American and Republican, an unusual combination. Since most African-Americans are Democrats, Smith said she is constantly asked why she’s a Republican — a question she’s sick of.

“I’m very tired of it, but I always answer it, anyway,” Smith said. “What a lot of people don’t understand is when they ask me that question it’s actually kind of racist. I mean, you look at me, and you immediately think that I think a certain way, but they don’t know anything about my background.”

But Smith, a minister’s daughter who grew up in rural Arkansas, did answer the question: “I’m a firm believer in individualism and small government. I believe that people should be able to choose what kind of schools they put their kids in. I think people should be able to invest in private accounts for Social Security. I believe that taxes should be low, and that national security should be a top priority.”

Later on in the article, Smith talks about her ambitions:

When asked about a political future in Arkansas, Smith doesn’t dodge the question.

“My heart is always in Arkansas. So naturally, if I had the opportunity to come back and run, or do anything of a public service nature to help Arkansas, then that would be an honor and I would love to do it,” she said. “I would even go so far as to say that I would love to be a representative from the First District one day, and possibly a governor.” Given her record thus far, she’ll probably follow through.

The question with Smith is “when” not “if.” She’s too young to challenge Blanche Lincoln. A challenge to Congressman Marion Berry (D-Ar.) would be interesting. While Smith would be unlikely to win, a Congressional race can be a good way for someone to cut their teeth in preparation for a run for higher office (Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama all ran unsuccessful House campaigns.)

If Smith does decide to focus on a political career, Arkansas is a prime place to do it. It is one of the few Southern States that remains overwhelmingly Democratic at the State and Local level. While in Presidential races, it’s been a Red State, it’s a great target to flip from Blue to Red at the State level. I’ll be keeping an eye on Princella Smith as a key future leader of the GOP in the South.