National Demos pulling Dist. 8 ads (Graf-Giffords race AZCD8)

The Arizona Daily Star ^ | 09.23.2006 | Daniel Scarpinato

[axes_of_weezles]

Tucson Region

National Demos pulling Dist. 8 ads

Republicans earlier did the same in Graf-Giffords race

By Daniel Scarpinato

arizona daily star

Tucson, Arizona | Published: 09.23.2006

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National Democrats, following the lead of their Republican counterparts, yanked money out of the District 8 congressional race Friday.

The move indicates the diminished level of national influence and interest — at least for now — in what has long been considered a competitive race. On Thursday, the National Republican Congressional Committee made the first move by canceling plans to run nonstop advertising through the Nov. 7 election.

Now, Democrat Gabrielle Giffords and Republican Randy Graf will need to make their cases to voters without the advantage of millions of dollars in national advertising money.

A spokeswoman with the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee did not return a late afternoon phone message.

Nationally, Democrats and Republicans are engaged in a duel for control of Congress. With Republican Rep. Jim Kolbe of District 8 announcing his retirement last year, Southern Arizona's seat has been one of the Republicans' most vulnerable assets.

Both KOLD Channel 13 and KGUN Channel 9 confirmed Friday that Democrats dropped plans to advertise here. Bob Duffy, regional sales manager for KOLD, said ads that would have aired through Oct. 9 have been canceled, and the party has indicated it will clear out ads it slated to run through Election Day.

Giffords' campaign said the departure of the DCCC spoke to the success of local efforts.

"The parties in Washington recognize that Gabrielle Giffords has broad, bipartisan support across Southern Arizona," said Rodd McLeod, her campaign manager.

"We continue to do what we're doing, no matter what the national parties decide," he said.

Graf campaign manager R.T. Gregg said he was "thrilled" both parties are leaving for now.

"We're absolutely delighted to be on a level playing field," said Gregg. "What we have been, is in a championship tournament. One of the visiting teams left. Now the other one's gone to follow them."

"We have a much better chance of communicating our message to voters without millions of dollars being spent on an independent expenditure by people in Washington, D.C.," Gregg said.

Giffords and Graf will face Libertarian David Nolan and independent Jay Quick in the general election.

● Contact reporter Daniel Scarpinato at 807-7789 or dscarpinato@azstarnet.com.

15 Comments on this story

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[axes_of_weezles]

Well, I guess Rahm Emmanuel must have been stepped on, calling Randy Graf a racist Duke supporter did not work.

Good news for the Graf Campaign.

[axes_of_weezles]

Ping.

[axes_of_weezles]

Ping

[BW2221]

Bush and the GOP probably think the money would be better spent on Lincoln Chaffee.

[MrNatural]

Well, since the article did not say which side had taken the decisive lead, I'll assume it was the Republican.

[retMD]

Not so sure it is good news. We can hope they're mistaken, but it sounds like Emmanuel thinks Giffords will win without party money.

[axes_of_weezles]

NRCC pulled their money for Graf wednesday night/thursday.

[axes_of_weezles]

It's good news. The Rats think they can win on ideology.
Wont work in Southern Arizona.

2 Military bases in the district.

300 Miles of border with mexico.

Majority of the district is rural/suburban. Rats core are in Tucson only.

[MrNatural]

The national parties never have enough money to fund all the races, so they don't waste it on races that are in the bag for one side or the other. The internal polls for both parties must be showing that the race is pretty well decided; the question is, for who?

[AZConser]

RATS have only two cores in AZ - Ariz State Univ in Tempe (suburb of Phoenix, in Maricopa county which has 60% of state pop of 5,131,000 [2000]), and Tucson which has its share of illegal aliens being so close to the border and home of the Univ of Ariz (liberal mecca). Pima county (Tucson and UofA) only have 16% of the 2000 state population. Rest of AZ is sparsely populated and one can drive a hundred miles and see NOTHING but rattlesnakes.

Arizona Population

[Don Corleone]

Well, since the article did not say which side had taken the decisive lead, I'll assume it was the Republican

Don't be too sure. With all the code pinkos at the U of A and all the South Tucsonians on the dole the 8th district is getting pretty far left. The only thing that might hold it together is the widely divergent opinions by the candidates on taxes and illegals.

[truth_seeker]

"Rest of AZ is sparsely populated and one can drive a hundred miles and see NOTHING but rattlesnakes."

Yet greater Sedona, Prescott (Tri cities) and Flagstaff are great places. All together they might reach 200,000 to 300,000 population spread across higher and cooler scenery.

[BW2221]

"NRCC pulled their money for Graf wednesday night/thursday."

That's why you are better off giving to organizations like The Club for Growth than the GOP.

[Seattle Conservative]

"It's good news. The Rats think they can win on ideology.
Wont work in Southern Arizona."


I hope you're right, but, according to this, Graf is/was 19 points behind
NRCC pulls Graf ads in Arizona
thehill.com ^ | September 22, 2006 | Aaron Blake
Posted on 09/22/2006 12:07:50 PM PDT by VU4G10

National Republicans are pulling advertising in Arizona for 8th District GOP nominee Randy Graf, who last week won his party’s primary but is trailing by nineteen points in a general election poll released Tuesday by his Democratic challenger.

A spokesman for the Tucson ABC affiliate, where ads were reserved, confirmed that the party committee was pulling them.

The Arizona Democratic Party on Wednesday accused Graf of "associating himself" with former Ku Klux Klan leader David Duke, citing a posting on Duke’s website but offering no evidence of an actual relationship.
On Thursday, Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) Chairman Rahm Emanuel (D-Ill.) sent a letter to the media addressed to National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) Chairman Tom Reynolds (R-N.Y). In it, he cited Graf’s "ties" to Duke and called on the NRCC to stop supporting Graf.

An NRCC spokesman said it has paid for ads on behalf of Graf that are scheduled to run through Oct. 3, but declined to say what it would do beyond that date, citing a policy against discussing campaign strategy. The spokesman reiterated the NRCC’s full support for Graf.
Reynolds responded to Emanuel in a letter arguing that Duke’s posting didn’t amount to an endorsement and detailing several Democratic donors and candidates with criminal pasts or "radical views."
Rest of article and thread here:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1706495/posts

[colors]

http://americanpatrol.com/06-FEATURES/060923-BIKERS-ON-THE-BORDER/RiderText.html

http://americanpatrol.com/

Check out AP front page today.
American Freedom Riders team up with the Southern Arizona Harley Riders Club to secure our borders.

I heard Randy Graf may be attending and speaking at the October 22, 2006
"Brotherhood of the Border" Motorcycle ride. There will also be lots of cars and trucks following.

Randy has the support of the riders, border county citizens and Border Patrol agents in the Tucson sector's
Local 2544 Endorses Randy Graf - 09-08-06 The text of the endorsement letter follows:

"Local 2544 of the National Border Patrol Council represents over 2,500 front-line Border Patrol agents in Arizona. We proudly endorse Randy Graf’s election bid for the Congressional District 8 seat in Arizona. As a legislator for the state of Arizona, Mr. Graf has proven time and again that he supports the efforts of United States Border Patrol agents in securing this country’s borders, and that he is truly dedicated to seeing that the immigration laws of this country are enforced.....
http://www.local2544.org/

[AZConser]

All together they might reach 200,000 to 300,000 population spread across higher and cooler scenery.<.i

Yes, I was mostly referring to the southern half of the state. Although the norther half is relatively unpopulated there are GREAT mountains and woods. I think the greatest stand on Ponderosa (except Russia) is in northern AZ. Much cooler because of elevation, but not too many people. All the people are in Maricopa county which is very quickly becoming Los Angeles II.

[zbigreddogz]

Yah, he's wrong.

The Dems are pulling out because they know they don't need them to win.

Graf is the darling of the one-issue-immigration crowd, but he has little appeal outside of that crowd.

I hope he wins, but I wouldn't bet the rent on it. For that matter, I wouldn't bet $5 on it either.

[alloysteel]

NOTHING but rattlesnakes?

That's not true - there is PLENTY of greasewood.

[colors]

Bye-Bye-Gabrielle Giffords

Hello Randy Graf.

I'd bet the rent and more on it, Randy is a sure win.

[zbigreddogz]

You are aware that every poll has Graf down by double digits, aren't you?