Pederson Making Bid for Kyl's Senate Seat (Arizona)

[Judi Lynn]

Pederson Making Bid for Kyl's Senate Seat

Wednesday, September 14, 2005

(09-14) 12:09 PDT Casa Grande, Ariz. (AP) --

Former Arizona Democratic Chairman Jim Pederson announced Wednesday his candidacy for a U.S. Senate seat held by Republican incumbent Jon Kyl.

Pederson said he would fight for middle-class families' interests, and contended Kyl has put the interests of oil, insurance, drug and tobacco companies ahead of those of most Arizonans.

"Today, Arizona has one senator who's fighting the broken politics of Washington," Pederson said, referring to Republican John McCain. "And then we have Senator Kyl, who's Exhibit A of the problem."

Pederson, a commercial real estate developer, earlier this year stepped down as party chairman after a four-year stint that saw Democrats reclaim the governor's office in 2002.
(snip/...)

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2005/09/14/politics/p120904D12.DTL

http://inside.c-spanarchives.org:8080/cspan/Pictures/Persons/1013750/1013750-185871.jpg

[demzilla]

1. Whoo-hoo, we have a race on our hands!

Pederson is a smart guy, did a great job of rebuilding our party and electing Janet Napolitano in 2002. Plus he's LOADED and will use his fortune in the campaign against Kyl.

Kyl is not especially popular here -- rigid, aloof, polling in the low 40s last I saw, which is not good for an incumbent.

Watch this one, folks -- especially if things are trending Democratic nationally -- this could be an upset win. It's always uphill for a Dem to win in Arizona, but Janet will be on the ballot, too, and she's expected to win re-election as governor.

[SteppingRazor]

2. He's been the odds-on favorite for a while now...

Heck, not to toot my own horn (OK, OK. I'm tooting), but I called this race to be Kyl vs. Pederson about three months ago.

Unfortunately, I'm also calling for a Kyl win :(

[demzilla]

3. Like I said, it's uphill

but by no means impossible. The GOP starts with a 5-point advantage. This can be overcome, especially as independent voters are not especially predisposed to Kyl.

If Pederson can project a moderate, independent-thinking persona, he stands a chance. And Arizona is a TV-heavy state, and Jim has money to spend.

I will say this - whoever wins will win by less than 5%, so it will be close.

[belle]

8. Loaded with money and an unpopular incumbent can't hurt, either...

fingers crossed! that'd be swell.

[AzDar]

4. It's going to be difficult to rid this state of that political 'Nosferatu'

Jon Kyl...but it can be done! Pederson helped Janet Napolitano get elected Governor, and she's done a fine job.

[peabody71]

5. Right on.

Man there hasn't been a decent fight for the Senate in Arizona in a Long time. Pedersons got a vote in Prescott!

[Arkana]

6. He's wrong about McCain, unfortunately...but otherwise he sounds good.

Good luck, Arizona.

[splat@14]

7. Good luck, we need them all!

[Miss Chybil]

9. It would be heavenly.... nt