PLEASE help AZ turn blue...we are really, really close!

[jillan]

We have a wonderful Dem that is going to stand up against
the very embarassing Senator Kyl. For those of you that don't know much about Kyl, here's a snip...warning, it may make you ill!


Kyl Blames New Orleans Residents
by Mike Liddell
Tue Sep 6th, 2005 at 03:08:09 PM EST

During a radio interview last week, Arizona talk show host Barry Young spoke out in favor of a strong national response to Hurricane Katrina. Arizona's Republican Senator Jon Kyl, on the other hand, was not so supportive, instead suggesting that the victims are to blame for lacking insurance and living in a city below sea level! Senator Kyl owes the victims an immediate apology for such callous, disrespectful statements.

Kyl Suggests Uninsured Hurricane Victims Shouldn’t Receive Federal Relief Funds. Speaking about Hurricane Katrina on KFYI-FM last week, Kyl said, “the question is if people know year after year after year a natural disaster occurs in a particular place and people continue to build there and want to live there, should they bear the responsibility of buying insurance or should everyone else bear the responsibility?”
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Before the Presidential election in 2004, Kerry and Bush were in a virtual tie. Hmmmm..... somehow it ended up like this:
Republican Bush
(Incumbent)
1,104,294 55%

Democratic Kerry
893,524 44%
??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
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and it was over 100* that day!
______________________________________________________________________
Even if it's $1.00 - PLEASE HELP US! Afterall, we still have to deal with McCain!
http://www.pederson2006.com/

[John Q. Citizen]

1. Who is running against Kyl. Do you have a contested Dem Primary?

[jillan]

2. Jim Pederson

this link was in my op
http://www.pederson2006.com/

Pederson was the head of the Az dem party, he just stepped down to run for Senate against Kyl.

[John Q. Citizen]

3. How's it looking? Do the voters respond to Pederson and is

Kyl on his way to being toast?

Looking at Perersons web page he seems to be running slightly on John McCains coat tails.

I would suggest that Pederson take a chance and run as a Democrat. He might be pleasanly surprised. Voters repect honesty and run from the wishy washy.

I'm not trying to bash the guy at all because I don't have any real knowledge of who he is, what he's done or what he might do. I just read some of his web page and that was my gut perception.

[jillan]

4. He just barely was officially announced.

We have alot of work to do in Az.
Kerry, Obama and Soros have all already backed him.

Az is very divided.
Kyl is popular among the repugs, and right now, Pederson is no more than ABBK, but that will change as we learn more about him. Appealing to the middle might not be bad in this state. The dems will vote for him regardless, but he will have to bring over some from the right to win.

[Jane Austin]

5. Is AZ divided between just left and right?

I would have thought there would be a big independent, moderate population there.

[jillan]

7. Phoenix is pretty red. This is Barry Goldwater country!

But Tucson, the next big city, is very liberal. Very blue.

Where I live is extremely red - it's scary!

But what makes Az so unique is that it is one of the fastest growing states because of it's great climate (hahaha - if you are rattlesnake! We're still in the 100*s)
but we have sunshine almost year round, and beautiful winters. Plus, housing is still affordable. Because of that, this red red state has become more liberal over the year. The biggest influx of newbies to this state are from Calif. The political climate in this state is constantly changing. We are in a major growth mode. As I said in the op, we were in a virtual tie before the Nov election. And we have a wonderful Dem Governor. That's why this election is so important. It will be the next step in turning us blue.

[blondeatlast]

8. Most are moderates, but tend to vote R due to Goldwater; who must

spin in his grave at seeing this administration.

Phoenix is pretty red, but Tucson, flagstaff, and Yuma are as blue as Phoenix is red; that is, not solidly one or the other.

The more rural parts of the state are ever so slightly red--again, it's the Goldwater influence--but tend to be pretty independent thinkers.

Our Democratic governor is VERY popular and AZ approval ratings for GWB right now are in the low 40s last I checked.

If we can nail Kyl to GWB, which should be exceedingly easy, Pederson has a good chance.

Plus, he's a real estate developer who has developed in some areas that would be hit hard by unemployment without the development. He'll be endorsed by several mayors of "emerging" areas, I'm fairly certain--Casa Grande, Coolidge, Payson.

He's got the smarts and enough of his own money to pull this off, and I understand from a friend who knows him very well that he REALLY wants it.

[Jane Austin]

9. Thanks for the detailed info.

Very interesting.

[John Q. Citizen]

6. Thanks for the info on the situation. I understand the need to

pull in independents as well as moderate Repos in states like AZ.

I'm from Montana and Statewide candidates here face a number of the same challenges.

I guess my bias is showing a little bit.

My political hero was Minn. Senator Paul Wellstone, who always remained true to his liberal convictions. He attracted support from independants and moderate conservatives by that passion and honesty. They maybe didn't agree with him on all the issues, but they knew he was willing to level with them and they could trust him.

I believe that's crucial to success, particularly from challegers or people running for open seats.