AZ Congressional Delegation

President Clinton campaigns for Carmona in Arizona, as polls show race tightening (video)

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by Pamela Powers Hannley

Despite Arizona’s reputation as a stalwartly red state, with
a capital R, Democrats are hoping to take back one of the state’s US Senate in November.

Although Democrats have held a percentage of the state’s
Congressional seats for years, the Republican Party has controlled both Arizona
US Senate seats since 1994, when embattled Senator Dennis
Deconcini retired, and Arizona Congressman Jon Kyl won it.

Since
early 2012, former Surgeon General Dr. Richard Carmona has been
crisscrossing the state, campaigning
tirelessly to move that Senate seat to the D column. Over the summer,
Carmona climbed steadily in the polls against Kyl’s heir apparent and
six-term, conservative Congressman Jeff Flake. A recently released poll shows
Independent-turned-Democrat Carmona
leading Flake by four percentage points—a statistical dead heat.

This close—and important—Senate race has attracted the
attention of heavy hitters from both parties. While the Koch Brothers’ Freedom
Works PAC has been pumping money into Flake’s campaign, this week Democrats
sent their secret weapon—President Bill Clinton—to Arizona to help Carmona.

Wednesday night, Carmona and Clinton addressed an estimated
5500 Arizonans at an outdoor rally on the Arizona State University (ASU)
campus.

More details and a videos after the jump.

Do you know Jeff? (Flake, that is.)

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by Pamela Powers Hannley Former mining lobbyist, right-wing think-tank exec, and Koch Brothers darling  Congressman Jeff Flake wants to replace long-time Arizona Senator Jon Kyl in the US Senate. (Shudder.) Former surgeon general Dr. Richard Carmona is trying to end the stronghold that Republican extremists have had on our two Senate seats for decades.  As … Read more

Bringing in the big guns: Clinton stumps for Carmona

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by Pamela Powers Hannley The Democrats smell blood in the water.  Congressman Jeff Flake– formerly thought to be the heir apparent to retiring Jon Kyl's US Senate seat– is now in a dead heat for that seat with Independent-turned-Democrat, former Surgeon General, Green Baret, Pima County Sheriff's Deputy, ER doc Richard Carmona.   Carmona has … Read more

The latest Carmona ad

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by David Safier

I really don't envy Jeff Flake. He's going head to head with one of the most difficult candidates to run against in the country. How can anyone top Carmona's story? And Flake, with all kinds of congressional votes to pick through and no private sector experience outside of his stint as a lobbyist, is easy pickings for the Carmona campaign. Carmona's latest ad, which you can see below the fold, is a perfect example of what Flake's up against.

And what does Flake have against Carmona? He has the claim that Bush's Surgeon General and one of the most independent-minded people you'll find anywhere is going to be carrying water for Obama. I just clicked through an anti-Carmona ad link on Talking Points Menu. The web page was created by Freedom Works. Not only does it look amateurish and have weak copy, but when you click on the video titled "Richard Carmona: Handpicked by Obama," it comes up with a black screen saying "The video has been removed by the user." Flakey, flakey, flakey.

Watch Carmona's new ad below the fold.

GOP gives up on Gabby (Mercer, that is)

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by Pamela Powers Hannley The GOP has been targeting Congressman Raul Grijalva for removal for years. Remember Ruth McClung? The Democrats initially dismissed the young, blond "rocket scientist" with the fiery, Sarah-Palin-style speechifying, but in the end, the new-comer nearly whooped the Congressman's ass in 2010. Fast forward to 2012, the Republicans are running another attractive … Read more