Thread: AZ: Kyl can't win with AZ conservatives

Political Notebook by Daniel Scarpinato : Kyl can't win with AZ conservatives
Political Notebook by Daniel Scarpinato
Tucson, Arizona | Published: 07.28.2007


Funny how the facts can put a real damper on things. As Arizona Sen. Jon Kyl joined with a group of fellow Republicans this week in Washington to lobby for $3 billion in border-enforcement funding, conservatives in Arizona were on the verge of a tantrum.

Wait. Isn't this what conservatives wanted, you ask, when they launched attacks at Kyl last month for supporting an immigration compromise that included a path to citizenship? Yes, seemingly so.

But after learning that something was percolating on Capitol Hill, Republican Don Goldwater, on behalf of a group called Americans for Legal Immigration, forwarded an e-mail titled "Here We Go Again!"

The e-mail stated: "The usual suspects like Lindsey Graham, Ted Kennedy and Jon Kyl are pushing to add the DREAM Act and other illegal-alien amnesty language to unrelated bills on the Senate floor TONIGHT!" The alert urged activists to "please move quickly!" Except the group soon learned it was a little confused.

In fact, what those senators accomplished — adding a ton of money to the Homeland Security budget for border security — was praised by the state Republican Party, which had been critical of the previous bill, calling it "amnesty." In an about-face, Goldwater said, "Assuming that there's not more to the story, I think it's an excellent first step."

Congressional callings
In anticipation of the 2008 election, state legislators are starting to position themselves for higher office. And Arizona's "resign to run" law means they have to be careful about how they do it.
The Arizona Constitution says that if an office holder isn't in the final year of his or her term, he or she can't declare a run for another office. They can, however, form an exploratory committee.
This week, Flagstaff Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick took a cue from Gabrielle Giffords' playbook and abandoned the Legislature to focus entirely on a run for Congress.
Kirkpatrick, a Democrat, wants the seat of embattled Republican U.S. Rep. Rick Renzi. Talk is that others may follow her lead, namely state Sen. Tom O'Halleran and state Rep. Bill Konopnicki, both Republicans.

Something to consider: In 2006, former state Rep. Steve Huffman decided to stay in the Legislature while battling for the GOP's congressional nomination.

Giffords and Harry Mitchell chose to resign their legislative seats and focus completely on their congressional campaigns.
While there were many factors in play, Giffords and Mitchell are now in Congress. Huffman didn't make it through the primary.

Back in 1982, Pima County Supervisor Conrad Joyner tried to have it both ways. He argued that the state requirement about resigning didn't apply to federal-office seekers. He stayed on the board and ran for the Republican nomination in then Congressional District 5, losing to some guy named Jim Kolbe.
He also lost his supervisor seat after a federal court found him in violation of the law.

Flash forward to 2007. Looking to knock Giffords, a Democrat, out of office in Congressional District 8, Senate President Tim Bee, a Republican, has repeatedly said he plans to stay in office.
Many think that's just fine. The job of Senate president comes with some prestige, and Bee can use the position to drum up attention.

But the cons haven't been discussed much.
Bee can't raise money from lobbyists when the Legislature is in session. That could make matching Giffords' growing mountain of money difficult.
With the Legislature fond of taking on controversial subjects, Bee could also be locked into taking positions on issues he'd rather avoid.

Last session was a Tim Bee love-fest, with some of the state's most liberal Democrats singing his praises. Once he's the clear candidate against Giffords, will Dems still be as friendly?
And there's one other thing: The Capitol is 100-some miles from District 8.


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