Hayworth, a six-term incumbent representing Scottsdale, Tempe and parts of Mesa, Phoenix and Chandler, was dogged all year by ties to disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff.
Forti added that when he mentioned Hayworths scandal factor he meant that by election day, Democrats and others had successfully painted the Republican as a candidate entrenched in political wrongdoing.
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http://www.loftydonkey.com/article/149/gop-spokesman-hayworth-lost-race
Most all the Democrats ran on illegal immigration enforcement. All were moderates or so called "conservative democrats".
You aren't going to convince anyone around here that illegal immigration is not a strong issue.
Why did Arizona pass 4 initiatives against illegals with a 70% margin?
Why are municipalities all over the country passing ordinances against illegals?
Wanting illegal immigrants delt with does not get someone proposing strict border enforcement elected. If it did, JD (who I voted for) would have won. The problem is much more complicated than just a fence, and those who have not spent their time in the conservative echo chamber know that.
JD came off here in our district as mean, angry, and with a simplistic solution that the swing voters did not believe would work.