Just how vulnerable is John Vile-Kyl

[Lenape85]

I know he is up for re-election in 2006 and I'm wondering if there is a good chance we can pick up this seat.

On one hand, he doesn't have nearly the name recognition that John McCain has and he's a wingnut.

On the other hand, this is Arizona.

[Langis]

1. Some people on here were saying that Janet Napolitano might run in '06

If so, I think she would have a chance.

[saracat]

2. No. Jim Pederson is probably running.

He was originally rumoured to be running against McCain, but I think it will be Kyle now that the dust has settled. JMHO

[blondeatlast]

3. So he won't support Napolitano if she runs for it?

You really think he has this on his mind? I'm really beginning to question his wisdom if that's the case.

If he really does, it's all about him, not the AZ Dems, and that's a real shame.

[saracat]

4. I don't think Janet is interested. She is already started reelection

plans. I have some thoughts on this but will tell you later!

[GoldenOldie]

5. Now is the time to get a Dem candidate on the ground

The problem with AZ is the Dem Party waits til the last moment to field a candidate within the District. The candidate maybe well known within a small area but not within the district as a whole and the voters especially from the smaller communities. They then re-elect the name they know rather than the unknown.

I am sure that is what happens with Kolbe. I have not heard of any of Kolbe's opponents spending any amount of time outside of Tucson. Our Media sucks as they also fail us. The media may hold one debate or one interview but this does not allow the majority of the voters to have an opportunity to even see the face or hear the voice of the candidate.

The Democrat Party really needs some overhauling in Arizona. Dean is right, this Party needs some new blood that instills life and pride in being a "Liberal."

[saracat]

6. I agree. I f you have been reading any of my posts "whining"

about just that fact. I will not be intimidated into being a moderate. And I am going to continue to work within the Party system. But I will not shut up and turn to the right or the center!

[blondeatlast]

8. Agreed. I'm a longtime Zonie Dem as well, and

the Party has failed us as of late.

I started my involvement from Bruce Babbit's gubernatorial re-election campaign.

I've seen things go downhill from what was once a small but very savvy operation.

[Is It Fascism Yet]

16. Um, yeah,

sorry to break it to you, but, that's it in a nutshell, it's all about him.

[NoodleBoy]

7. it'll be difficult defeating him

or any other major State republican until McCain retires. He'll endorse Kyl, and since McCain is viewed as a moderate by most people in the state it'll be hard to overcome that. A good hope would actually be a vicious primary fight between Kyl and some other aspiring Arizona Republican, but that could just get Bush to come campaign for him like he did with Specter in Pennsylvania. Going to be interesting.

[dorktv]

9. Yes it is Arizona and we have a party stucture that needs

to be rebuilt from the ground up. Do not expect anyone to be defeated until 2008. We have a lot of ground work to do first and 2 years is not enough time. AZ vote and a few other groups are working to get things better here. Candidate training, we are going to get rid of do-nothing district chairs, get PCs who can PC. stuff like that so when 2008 rolls around we got it in the bag.

[NoodleBoy]

10. so what can I do to help?

[dorktv]

12. Get in contact with AZ vote

http://www.az-vote.com and also your local party.

Iamladybug on here is the point person for AZVote so send her a PM. :) You rock! :yourock:

[Is It Fascism Yet]

17. that's impossible

everyone is too fed up with the dinner club the az dems have become. why aren't we demanding recounts in AZ? if dems give up this easily, they have no hope of expecting continuing interest from anyone.

[NMDemDist2]

11. getting Kyl out would be a dream, but I think we need to start locally

try and get more blue in the state house

Singh ran a hard campaign, but lost big. We need to get more local races to go our way

suggestions?

[dorktv]

13. Ground work. We have little ground work done anywhere.

We should work on doing a Chicago machine out here.

[blondeatlast]

14. I like the way you think!

With the party infrastructure we have, though, it's an uphill battle.

[GoldenOldie]

15. Agree action should begin now.

It doesn't matter if Kyl's opponent will be a Democrat outside your district. All Zoni's need to to give full support to include help in funding.

All these CON reps have been able to maintain their seats because the Dems have failed to nominate or have waited to long to have the condidate become known by the voter. He or she should be knocking on doors, visiting cities, towns and villages throughout the area, visiting senior centers, senior communities, nursing homes, schools (use those Young Democrats....they learned a lot during this last campaign and they know how the system works now), the State Fair, the county fairs, etc., anywhere and anytime any group or person is willing to listen.

This would be an excellent Forum to begin.

[Is It Fascism Yet]

18. Mark Osterloh can do it I think

The trouble with Starkey is that he didn't seem really devoted to winning. He was sort of waiting for the AZ dem party to just get him elected. At least, that was my take on the situation when I tried to arrange things for him. He was congenial, he was okay, but, he wasn't really much of a campaigner. Neither did he really seem to stand for anything...it was the same old, "lets elect a democrat because anybody is better than a republican" platform. Nothing original, really, just some nice guy who claimed to be a democrat and really didn't have a snowball's chance in hell. Mark Osterloh, on the other hand, is a determined campaigner who made a name for himself in the 2002 gubernatorial race. People remember him as an action hero for his pushing through of the referendum he authored on the Clean Elections Act. He takes a strong posture on issues, has ideas, he is different. I think maybe Mark could beat John Vile Kyl, who is famous for doing nothing, unless it's lining his pockets.