By Michael Bryan
Say one thing for Jon Hulburd, who is running against Dan Quayle's son, Ben, in AZ's CD 3, he is not going to allow Quayle to coast to victory in a heavily GOP district. He's working hard for conservative votes to put him over the top.
Considering that entrenched (though ethically challenged) incumbent Shadegg drew only 54% in 2008 against Democrat Bob Lord, I doubt that political tyro (and ethically challenged) Ben Quayle is likely to top that, making the district about a +6 for Republicans. Which means that in order to win Hulburd needs to make some serious headway with Republican voters to make up for lower mid-term participation and the swing among independents to the GOP.
Hulburd's first policy statement of the general election, to support extending all the Bush tax cuts through 2012, was aimed squarely at the Republican voters of CD 3. Clearly there is a danger of alienating Democratic voters (this one included) with such a position, but more important to Hulburd's chances is getting Republicans comfortable voting for Hulburd and soured on voting for Quayle. Look for this is going to be a tough contrast race – or at least it will be if Hulburd wants to win.
And it looks like Hulburd's team gets it. His first radio ad comes out swinging hard for right field. Hulburd is going after values voters in a big way with Quayle's own shortcomings. Ben is going to rue the day he blogged the words, "my moral compass is so broken I can't even find the parking lot."
There is no doubt that Hulburd is going to have to run far to the right of where most Democrats are positioned to make a pickup in CD 3. It looks like Hulburd is ready to do what it takes to win as a Democrat in a conservative district. If that's ever going to happen this is the year, when there is no strong incumbent and an arguably very weak GOP nominee.
Look to CD 3 this season as a possible Democratic gain as Hulburd looks to Harry Mitchell's playbook for success in a Republican leaning district.
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I’ll ask the same question I’ve asked Rep. Giffords:
“Why the HELL do you think that conservatives will vote for a fake republican this time around?”
I’d much rather see someone like Alan Grayson run (Who is, by the way HEAVILY favored in his very red district).
Dear god what do we have to do to get some Democrats with frakking BALLS in this country?
Someone to stand up and say
“Hey, it’s been 30 goddamn years of them trickling down on us and all it’s ever gotten us is broke, wet and smelling of piss. You all are RIGHT to be angry !”
THERE is a candidate I’ll get out and crawl through rusty nails and Republican neighborhoods to support.