Posted on 11/14/2006 8:19:28 AM PST by Dane
PHOENIX -- Democrat Harry Mitchell's lead over Republican Rep. J.D. Hayworth increased as elections officials continued to count ballots Monday in the 5th Congressional District race.
Mitchell had a total of 88,302 votes, or 50 percent. Hayworth had 82,485 votes, or 47 percent, according to the Secretary of State's office, which continues to compile early and provisional ballots.
Libertarian Warren Severin had 5,578 votes, or 3.2 percent.
The Associated Press called the race for Mitchell last Tuesday.
Hayworth has not conceded the race. Elections officials say it will take several days to finish counting the more than 100,000 ballots that remain.
Meanwhile, Mitchell continued to organize a congressional transition team as he spent a second day at an orientation session in Washington, D.C., for newly elected Democratic members of Congress.
Arizona's 5th District includes Scottsdale, Tempe and parts of Chandler, Mesa and Phoenix.
True to form, Dane, you and the likes of Chavez are avoiding the fact that Hayworth got muddied by the Abramoff scandal, and every pubbie tainted by scandal or corruption in this election went down.
Whereas Graf got sandbagged by the national party in the primary, and was not endorsed by the outgoing pubbie incumbent. So much for party loyalty. I'd say its that kind of crap that cost that seat - so is the national GOP interested in a majority? Or just seeking some murky centrism devoid of any core values?
As to your other points:
Every single exit poll shows that voters voted against Republicans in this election because (1) the war in Iraq (2) corruption and (3) (in some states) free trade
In my state (OH), these were absolutely, positively true and on the mark. Iraq overlaid all of the political dynamic. The local 'Pubs had a tremendous taint of scandal, from the Governor to Congressmen (Bob Ney taking money from Abramoff), and lower-level bureaucrats lining their pockets with public funds. Finally, the continuing drag of lack of economic growth, partly perceived as the fault of trade agreements that have offshored a lot of the work that used to be done here, also plated a part. So I'd say your three points are three ringers.
We went blue too here in CO--Dem governor now and majority Dem U.S. Reps.
So the uncounted ballots out-number the total votes of either candidate, but in a district that leans 3-2 in favor of the GOP, a 2 percentage point lead by the democrat is considered insurmountable?
Actually, JD stated on the radio that his races always were tight. I doubt the margin is 5-3 in favor of Republicans.
For some,they're not bright enough to make the connection between low taxes,low crime,etc and the fact that it's Republicans who have governed the state for "x" number of years (or decades).For others,they don't see themselves fleeing an area that's gone to the dogs.They feel guilty about living in a low tax state where criminals are punished rather than "counseled".
I don't know how your leftists are over there,but ours feel really good when tax rates are high....if they can find an accountant who can "massage" *their* tax returns.
Tancredo won and Hayworth is behind a candidate who was strident in his anti illegal immigration stance, as well.
If Hayworth loses, it won't be about immigration.
Well.......all I have to say is, where can JD go for his next step, to keep our borders closed. He is one person that was working hard on that front, and I hope that there is still a place for him, to continue his fight.
This is what just frosts me. It happens all over the place. These rich, big city liberals move to the red states to "get back to a simpler way of life" then proceed to change the politics to what they just left. But the trouble is they drag all the locals into their liberal mess with them. Then when they have destroyed a community, they move on to the next trendy spot and do the same.
Regards, Ivan
Same in New Hampshire.Until a couple of years ago,their Governors were always Republicans as were both their Senators and both their Congressman.
Last Wednesday,it was evident that their RAT Governor was re-elected with something like 70% of the vote and both their House seats flipped from Republican to really,*really* left wing RATS.
And 95% of the damage in NH is the result of years of Massachusetts refugees.I have no trouble understanding why natives of NH refer to these refugees as "Massholes".
I suppose it depends on what the word "trashing" means...
Hayworth's book gutted the president on immigration.
I hear ya,friend.I will,in the not too distant future,be fleeing the land of my birth for NC and,while there,won't vote for a *single* RAT.
I'll bet Hayworth's book did so with facts and challenges to Bush's policies. That is not trashing.
But didn't he have some Abramoff baggage?
Well I'm really sorry to hear that the disease is spreading.
Sounds like a statement of fact to me. I don't see anything in that paragraph that isn't true.
It's the economy, stupid.
What happened to that slogan? From the numbers I see on tv and on FR, the economy is supposedly doing just fine. However, how do those numbers translate to Joe and Susie with their two point five kids and overpriced house? Wasn't it really, really hot in Phoenix in August, September, and October? How much $$$$$ have Joe and Susie been shelling out to pay for power? And then there were those extraordinarily high gas prices during those really hot months.
I think there are some underlying factors in these races besides immigration and Iraq, though Iraq is a big negative to a lot of people. (I think Iraq was a big motivator for both sides to show up at the polls. Those who were not real thrilled with Iraq but not against it were more likely to stay home, imo.)
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