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Poll says Arpaio would beat Goddard in governor's race
Sierra Vista Herald/Bisbee Review (Capitol Media Services) ^ | Howard Fischer

Posted on 11/24/2009 6:47:43 PM PST by SandRat

PHOENIX — The best bet for Republicans to keep the governor’s office would be to choose Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio as the party’s nominee, a new statewide poll shows.

According to Rasmussen Reports, a head-to-head race between incumbent Republican Jan Brewer and presumptive Democratic nominee Terry Goddard would result in her ouster. The survey of 1,200 likely voters earlier this month found 44 percent of those asked favor Goddard, currently the state’s attorney general, against 35 percent who said they would vote to give Brewer a term of her own.

Also, 9 percent wanted someone else, with the balance undecided.

Treasurer Dean Martin, who has said he is considering entering the fray, does somewhat better, in a statistical dead heat with Goddard at 40 points for the Democrat and 38 for Martin.

But the 77-year-old Arpaio picked up the backing 51 percent of those asked, against 39 percent for Goddard.

Arpaio has gained statewide attention for his high-profile “crime suppression sweeps,” which the sheriff has acknowledged have as at least part of their goal to apprehend those not in the country legally. And Arpaio continued those sweeps even after the U.S. Department of Homeland Security rescinded the agreement it had with him to let his deputies check the legal status of those they contact.

That stance has not hurt his popularity: 64 percent of those questioned said they back Arpaio’s efforts to “work around federal law” about who is empowered to detain illegal immigrants.

Conversely, Brewer’s popularity may be hampered by opposition to hiking the sales tax, a cornerstone of the governor’s plan to balance the current budget. Neither Arpaio nor Goddard has taken a position on the levy.

Arpaio said Monday the results are not surprising.

“I don’t want to be egotistical,” he told Capitol Media Services. “But I knew where the results would come out.”

But Arpaio, who was re-elected in 2008 to another four-year term and would have to resign to run for governor next year, was not making any commitments.

“I have the capability of raising the big bucks (for a campaign) very easily if I ever decided to run for governor,” he said. And Arpaio said that, given his high name identification, he would not need to make a decision until next spring. The deadline for filing nominating petitions is May 26.

Arpaio has toyed with the idea at least twice before, backing away each time. The sheriff said that, given his age, it is now or never.

“This will be my last hurrah if I wanted to address those problems” the state has, he said.

The survey has a margin of error of 3 percentage points.


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Politics/Elections; US: Arizona
KEYWORDS: arpaio; az2010; governor; sheriff

1 posted on 11/24/2009 6:47:44 PM PST by SandRat
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To: SandRat

He’s got my support 100%! I say he should go for it!!!


2 posted on 11/24/2009 6:52:23 PM PST by o2bfree (This president is giving me a headache!)
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To: SandRat

I have been familiar with him for darn near 20 years. He needs to remain Sheriff. He understands his calling.


3 posted on 11/24/2009 6:56:48 PM PST by eyedigress
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To: o2bfree

Sheriff Joe for President, but I will settle for Governor.


4 posted on 11/24/2009 6:57:11 PM PST by eyeamok
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To: SandRat

Where do I send a check?


5 posted on 11/24/2009 6:59:34 PM PST by votemout
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To: votemout

Obviously the man plays an important role (nationally, I might add) in his current position. Are we best served by having him operate in a known identity as Sheriff? As an out-of-stater, I’d have to believe the answer is yes.

To you Arizonians, has he ever enumerated any of his positions outside of the arena of law enforcement?


6 posted on 11/24/2009 7:08:12 PM PST by cbass
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To: cbass

“To you Arizonians, has he ever enumerated any of his positions outside of the arena of law enforcement?”

Yes, in his book. He is a staunch conservative.


7 posted on 11/24/2009 7:10:13 PM PST by stephenjohnbanker (Support our troops, and vote out the RINO's!)
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To: cbass
I'm in Cal. I would think he would support more laws and funds for rounding up illegals.

Don't know who's gov now. He seems like a business-like straight-forward, common-sense type of guy.

8 posted on 11/24/2009 7:11:05 PM PST by votemout
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To: SandRat

He endorsed Napolitano. I remember the TV ads.That’s enough for me.


9 posted on 11/24/2009 7:32:38 PM PST by edwords
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To: SandRat

AZ would be a a great state if that were to happen. I hope Joe goes for it.


10 posted on 11/24/2009 8:14:38 PM PST by freekitty (Give me back my conservative vote; then find me a real conservative to vote for)
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To: SandRat

Two years experience as governor by 2012, then on to the White House. Sounds right to me.


11 posted on 11/24/2009 9:26:04 PM PST by boocoowell (Nuclear power now!)
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To: SandRat
If he would win the governorship, then I think Sheriff Joe Arpaio would be a good VP candidate choice for Sarah, you know like her enforcer ;^)
Cajun just fantasizing again.
12 posted on 11/24/2009 9:33:28 PM PST by The Cajun (Mind numbed robot , ditto-head, Hannitized, Levinite)
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To: The Cajun

Not VP but Homeland Security, he’d KICK BUTT and take names from border to border.


13 posted on 11/25/2009 4:51:54 PM PST by SandRat (Duty, Honor, Country! What else needs said?)
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