Arpaio expected to win sixth term as Sheriff, Flake a slight favorite over Carmona
Phoenix Business Journal by Mike Sunnucks, Senior Reporter
Date: Wednesday, October 31, 2012, 4:42pm MST
Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio is favored to win a sixth term in office and U.S. Rep. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., is the narrow favorite over former U.S. Surgeon General Richard Carmona in their contentious U.S. Senate contest.
That is according to political consultants, lobbyists, business and other advocates from both sides of the aisle and their election day expectations. I’ve spoken to many of them in recent days as we count down to Election day.
Those folks expect Arpaio, 80, to defeat Democratic challenger Paul Penzone next week. Arpaio has a big financial advantage in the race.
Critics of the controversial Republican Sheriff are still hoping for the upset, they say, and point to the 2011 recall election of Arizona Senate President Russell Pearce, R-Mesa. Pearce and Arpaio have been two of the state’s leading hard-liners on illegal immigration. Pearce lost that East Valley election to underdog Jerry Lewis.
Polls have shown voters still support Arpaio’s tough-on-crime policies, but did not like inquiries into President Barack Obama’s birth certificate.
In the Senate race, a majority of the consultants and political experts I spoke with around town expect Flake to win the open seat being vacated by the retiring U.S. Sen. Jon Kyl, R-Ariz.
Still, a few of those surveyed picked Carmona to win. Let us know what you think about that race by clicking here.
Broader polls show the race very close and Democrats and their allies have spent ad dollars in Arizona on the contest.
That’s not something Obama has done here.
Later this week I’ll look at how some other Arizona races and ballot measure are shaping up and how political experts and campaign consultants here in Arizona gauge the tight national race for the White House between Obama and Mitt Romney.
Arpaio expected to win sixth term as Sheriff, Flake a slight favorite over Carmona - Phoenix Business Journal
