AZ:Hayworth ready to run for governor

The Arizona Republic ^ | April 16, 2003 | Chip Scutari

[dittomom]

U.S. Rep. J.D. Hayworth is quietly gearing up for a run for governor.

Republican pundits believe that if Gov. Janet Napolitano doesn't run for a seat in the U.S. Senate in 2006, Hayworth would provide a tough, intriguing matchup for her. The theory is that Hayworth, a congenial conservative, would pose problems for the incumbent governor on several fronts.

[Kuksool]

Did anti-Mormon bias play any role in Salmon's defeat?

[Frumious Bandersnatch]

Tucson is run by the Greens. But even without Tucson Salmon would have won if not for his stance against Casinos - which resonated big time with some northern tribes.

Of course, I tend to believe also that one of Matt's biggest problems was the previous governor Jane Hull, a RINO if ever there was one.

I sort of wish that Salmon had not conceded with less than 10,000 votes to be counted. He was still gaining ground and it was at least statistically possible that he could have won (I think that they stopped counting after he conceded). Given the way things were going, I doubt that he would have won, but most of the uncounted votes were from the valley - which heavily favored him. It is not out of reason for the election to have come down to a few hundred votes.

[GraniteStateConservative]

Hayworth lost to Deb Pryce and she may be chosen for something in the Bush II term. That would allow Hayworth to join leadership.

[LS]

I like J.D. and have contributed to him---one of the few I specifically contribute to---even though I live in Ohio. My roots are still in AZ, and it is outrageous that state is not 100% represented by the GOP (if you consider McCain a Republican).

[dittomom]

McCain is definately showing the signs that he is running agian. He's raising money and has said he plans to run. I don't think any Republicans in this state have the guts to run against him. Flake is putting out feelers, but I will be surprised if he really does.

JD's style would really shake up the Senate - and the Senate could really use a shot in the arm! Wouldn't you just love to see a floor debate between JD and Hitlery?!?!?

[Spiff]

Did anti-Mormon bias play any role in Salmon's defeat?

Some. But mostly it was woman RINOs crossing over to vote for Janet. Disgusting!!

[McGavin999]

I know that McCain is trying to raise money. I got a call the other day and told them I'll support any republican candidate that runs against him. I really gave the poor guy an earfull.

JD would make a great senator and you're right, any debate between he and Hillary would be worth it's weight in gold.

[fieldmarshaldj]

"It'll be another scumbag RAT (all that they will elect in this sorry excuse for a "state"). Probably Christine Gregoire (the Attorney General), she's a wacko leftist of the Pelosi bent and as corrupt as Clinton/McAuliffe/Reno et.al. In other words she's a perfect candidate for this rotten state."

Lovely. I know she passed up the Senate race in '00 in favor of Maria dot.bomb and will be looking for payback. The GOP definitely needs to get its act together up there and nominate a strong slate. 24 years without a GOP Governor is way too long...

[Scott from the Left Coast]

You just don't get much from the Republicans in this state...probably because with the exception of low-population areas in the east and parts of the SW, the population of the state is overwhelmingly far left. Even our businesses (the large ones anyway) tilt strongly to the left.

I suspect that they honestly feel that unless they go totally RINO they have no chance of retaining their position. We haven't had any really good true conservatives that have fared very well (more than 40%) in statewide elections.

I've lived here for 46 years...and I'm anxious to move because I think it's become pretty hopeless here.

[fieldmarshaldj]

"However, I believe that my apprehension is borne out historically. It is harder, much harder, for a congressman to become Governor than a state attorney general. Conversely it is easier for a congressman to become a Senator than an AG."

"With the US House so close, I think we should try to keep as many of the good guys in the House rather than encouraging them to dream of being Governor. I think the issue is structural and the difference b/w state and federal politics. I just think that congresman to governor is an awkward leap."

I've never done a comparison to see about the ratio of successful former Congressmen elected Governor vs. Attorneys-General. You are right about the awkwardness of the jump. It's one thing if they previously served in a state legislative capacity, jumped to Congress, and then to Governor (albeit even with that, you've got to get back in the hang of dealing with mighty parochial state issues). Some of these Congressmen, though, subscribe to term limits, another reason why they're looking for another job. I think term limits has backfired on us a bit, because we lost several good people in the '90s that were replaced by the very people that represented everything that was wrong with Washington (meaning 'Rats).

"There is also the guy from Nebraska a few years ago, Jon Christensen, who also ran and fell short. Wes Watkins in Oklahoma also ran numerous times, as a D and as an I. He never made it, eventually returning to the US House as an R."

Christensen probably would've won had he not shot himself in the foot in the primary with misleading accusations against Mike Johanns. Watkins was similarly too Conservative to win as a 'Rat, and his running in '94 enabled a victory by Frank Keating. I frankly would've rather see Watkins run for Govenor as an "R" last year then Largent. He probably would've won this time.

[fieldmarshaldj]

It's the Black Hole of Puget Sound that is the problem. Remove that communist cancer of Seattle, and the state would be halfway decent. The State Senate at least is Republican again, for all the good that does... My half-sister was born in Bremerton (I'm sure you know where that is) and she's now in Berkeley, an "educator" and registered member of the neo-Communist Peace & Freedom Party. No good comes out of those places... :-(

[Coop]

In any event, we're forgetting three success stories this cycle, that of Mark Sanford in SC, Bob Riley in AL and Bob Ehrlich in MD, and that's nothing to sneeze at. With Ernie Fletcher in KY this year, hopefully we'll get another GOP Conservative into a Governor's Mansion.

While I like Bob Ehrlich, I wouldn't refer to him as a conservative. He's unfortunately pro abortion. If he weren't, I expect he'd be seriously looked at as a presidential contender in 2008 (assuming he won re-election in 2006).

[AZamericonnie]

Did anti-Mormon bias play any role in Salmon's defeat? I was campaigning for Salmon & had feedback indicating so on more than one occasion.

[Kuksool]

Now why aren't the RATS condemning anti-Mormon bigotry, and demanding pro-Mormon sensitivity training in government schools? After all, the RATS are paladins of tolerance and diversity. / SARCASM

[AuH2ORepublican]

"I frankly would've rather see Watkins run for Govenor as an "R" last year then Largent. He probably would've won this time."

---

I'm sure Watkins would have won, since he would have held all of the Republican areas and carried traditionally Democratic SE Oklahoma, which wouldn't leave the Dems with many areas of strength. It took uncommon incompetence on the part of Largent to lose in such a heavily Republican state. But Watkins's health had been a problem of late, and he almost retired in 1998 or so before some top Republicans convinced him otherwise (had he retired, his House seat would have been a probable Dem pick-up), so I don't think he could have been convinced to run for Governor.

[Mr. Mojo]

What is this guy's position regarding the lack of border security?

If you ever get an answer to that question, please ping me.

[southernnorthcarolina]

The theory is that Hayworth, a congenial conservative...

Hayworth is "congenial"? Bwahahahaha, tell that to the Dems. He's mean as a snake. That's why I like him so much. I remember watching him speak in the U.S. House on C-SPAN during the Clinton impeachment saga, and he was, if you'll pardon the expression, burning Clinton a new one.

He's a big guy with a booming voice, and he's about as subtle as a punch in the nose. The Almanac of American Politics says that early in his tenure (he was elected in 1994) his "...seat was a top target [of Dems] thanks in large part to Hayworth's blustery and flamboyant image that polarized the electorate here." The book also quotes long-term lefty Congressman David Obey (D-Wisconsin) as telling him, "You are one of the most impolite members I have ever seen in my service in this House."

Hayworth knocked out an incumbent Dem in 1994, and has had to run in a very tough (for Republicans) district since then -- heavy Navajo and Hispanic concentrations, in addition to some Phoenix suburbs, generally not the most affluent ones. Conventional wisdom suggests that faced with a marginal (at best) district, a Republican should move toward the middle. Not Hayworth: American Conservative Union ratings of 100% (in 2002), 100% (in 2001), and 99% (lifetime -- wonder where he screwed up?).

Hayworth is a North Carolinian; born in High Point, and a football player for N.C. State. My UNC affiliation notwithstanding, he's one of my favorites. Like others on this board, I'd really rather see McCain go -- well, anywhere -- rather than file for re-election in 2004, and have Hayworth move up to the Senate. But if the Governor's race is the best for Hayworth, I wish him well.

[S.O.S121.500]

Your donkey is talking, teach it some manners.

[marajade]

He's still a white male and will have the same problem that Salmon did...

[marajade]

"Did anti-Mormon bias play any role in Salmon's defeat?"

Not by Napolitano... but by a third party candidate who switched to independent from democrat...