Suddenly, a Dem Senate Race?

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

The Arizona Republic is reporting today Former party chairman entering Arizona Senate race:

Don Bivens has been talking with state and national Democratic officials about entering the race. A source close to the Phoenix lawyer says Bivens has decided to run. The source spoke on condition of anonymity for lack of authority to speak publicly about it.

[The] former chairman of the Arizona Democratic Party will announce Monday that he's running for the seat now held by retiring Sen. Jon Kyl.

Politico reports today in an Exclusive: Giffords advisers encouraging Carmona:

A pair of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords's top political hands are encouraging former U.S. Surgeon General Richard Carmona to enter the U.S. Senate race in Arizona, POLITICO has learned.

The quiet courting of Carmona by Giffords's camp marks the clearest signal to date that the recovering congresswoman has ruled out her own 2012 bid for the upper chamber.

Giffords's media strategist Jason Ralston has been holding private meetings with Carmona since at least July, and her campaign manager, Rodd McLeod, met with him as recently as last Monday at Kenyon Ranch, according to two Democrats familiar with the interactions.

While it's not clear who initiated contact, sources convey that the Giffords aides have indicated to Carmona they would be willing to assist him in putting together a campaign as a Democrat.

Carmona has a close relationship with Giffords, and introduced her during some of the most heated town halls during the summer of 2009. He also relayed her condition on TV in the aftermath of the January shootings.

[T]he level and frequency of talks he's had with Giffords's closest allies in recent weeks underscores that he's inching closer to a final decision.

One Democrat stressed that while "he's not 100 percent" settled on entering the race, he's moving closer in that direction.

Arizona's senior congressional member, Rep. Ed Pastor (CD 4), is still exploring whether to run for the senate.

Former Republican-turned-Democrat businessman David Crowe is also exploring a run for the senate. David Crowe For AZ.

I would expect to see a female candidate or two join this all boys club. This is Democratic politics after all.