AZ is/was a Progressive state-—denied entrance to the union because of its constitution. Carl Hayden, D, was senator here forever. But there are a lot of entrepreneurs and post-war new immigrants here so the economy is very important. I think Clinton tapped into that and probably little else. But I was in OH, so it’s only a guess.
Dole was so bad in 1996 there was no enthusiasm. He wet the bed and threw the game. He was barely ahead in the Republican areas so communist Tucson decided the thing. That’s the only Dem victory here since Truman.