First the news from http://sonoranalliance.com/:
" I just received an automated call from Arizona Republican Party chairman Matt Salmon urging me to ignore the negative attack ads against Steve Huffman being run be the Democrats. Matt weakly claimed that he was not endorsing any candidate.
Sorry Matt your pathetic attempt to help Huffman and say you are not favoring him is too transparent. For the record Matt Salmon did not call when Huffman was lying about and attacking the reputation of Randy Graf. Salmon was also absent when the NRCC intervened in a primary and backed one Republican candidate over the other.
If you are sick of the backroom deals being made by Republican higher-up during a primary please call the Arizona Republican Party at (602) 957-7770 and tell them what you think. You might also try to reach Matt at his office (602) 445-8274."
The breakdown:
Insiders say that when the NRCC broke its promise and began advertising for Huffman, Matt Salmon made an alleged verbal protest, but a compliant nod, and stood by while the NRCC moved in. If there was any sign of leadership, it was behind closed doors. A call from Click has broken the silence, however. Now Matt Salmon is running a phone ad on behalf of Huffman claiming it's not an endorsement, just a clarification. 'Kind of like the NRCC "non-endorsement." If it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck, etc., it's still a dog, cow or something else according to the Arizona Republican Party.
The calls coming in to the party headquarters are not flattering. Some report constituents threatening to stop all contributions to the party, or worse, leaving the party altogether. In any case, don't expect to see Matt Salmon as the state party chairman after this term if he is able to make it to the end. It's doubtful that his friends in Maricopa and Jim Click will be able to save him from the anti-Huffman constituents of CD8 candidates and conservatives throughout the state.
The latest attack ads against Mike Hellon, the last minute Huffman lawsuit against the Minutemen to stop their ads, and pressure on neighboring state parties as well as our own Arizona Republican Party suggests Huffman is not polling well. His efforts to steal votes from Mike Hellon will fail. Mike's support base is solid. Will more ads and more endorsements make a difference? Probably not. Party activists are the only ones who care about a de-facto party endorsement, and they have chosen Hellon or Graf overwhelmingly. So the party endorsement will have little effect. More attack ads are reinforcing the belief that Huffman has nothing to offer and is simply a nasty person. So we don't expect tremendous gains here either.
Huffman has peaked and he knows it.
This latest act by the state party may actually put the final nail in the coffin for Huffman as it brings out the outraged party activists. It may also spell doom to the Republican Party in Southern Arizona with ripple effects throughout the state. If enough activists rebel—and some reportedly have—what chances do fellow conservatives like Kyl have in Southern Arizona? And how will the party ever rebuild regardless of who wins the primary and general elections in this race?
Like sharks in the water, the Democrats are circling....and they smell blood.
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17 comments:
Matt Salmon and Glen Hammer should be forced to resign over this. They've hidden in their bunker until it was time to be Jim Click's little bitch. Again. Then Salmon comes out and does this robocall for Huffman, the liberal smear artist. The fish rots from the head and that head resides at 3501 North 24th St. The stench is overwhelming. I'm outta here. Where do I register as OTR (Other Than Republican)?
Don't you think Salmon would do the same thing if Randy got attacked by the State Dems? I do. It made perfect sense to me. It is his job to defend Republicans against the Democrat attack machine. I'm stunned that some of you all are more in agreement with the people that want Speaker Pelosi than you are with the Republican Chairman.
I think we can agree that the best way to give them the egg on the face (or shaft) would be to vote Graf or Hellon...or Antenori...or Jenkins.
I will be interested in seeing what happens if Huffman wins tomorrow. After being down 8$ in the last poll...it would be clear that these little efforts would have been Republican establishment's way of telling you just how things work in your party.
Oh...and remember that Click and his Chamber boys sure do profit a LOT from illegal workers and Mexicans who shop here.
Actually no, I don't think Salmon would have done the same for Graf or any of the other candidates. Salmon has lobbyed the state legislature on behalf of Click for all the money he's given to the GOP, and he'll do whatever Click wants him to do. In my opinion, Matt Salmon is the worst thing that has happened to the AZGOP in a LONG time...
Matt wants to bring the same brilliant skills he brought to his gubernatorial campaign to competitive races throughout Arizona. His 15 minutes are just about up.
Oh...Just got this Hellon ad by email...I thought it was quite quite intriguing:
Dear Friend:
Our next Representative in Congress will have to face some very tough issues – securing our border, winning the war on terror, and ensuring that our economy remains strong and vibrant. That’s why I have run my campaign based on the issues important to all of us, not negative personal attacks. We cannot afford to elect a candidate in this primary who does not have the ability to bring everyone together in November. Sadly, the bitter fight between Steve Huffman and Randy Graf will make it almost impossible for either of them to win the General Election in November.
That is why I am asking for your vote in tomorrow’s Republican Primary Election for the U.S. House of Representatives. Voters across Arizona are looking for proven leadership and for a candidate to address the important issues facing our country in a thoughtful and mature manner. If you look back over these past few months, I believe you will agree that my campaign has best exemplified those qualities.
I would be most honored by your support, would deeply appreciate your vote, and would do my utmost to make you proud of my service in Congress.
Sincerely,
Mike Hellon
P.S. If you would like to know more about where I stand on the issues, or if you would like to receive a copy of my plan to secure our southern border, please visit my Website at www.mikehellon.com.
Hi Guys...
A note from across the aisle,if I may. As a Democrat I of course want to see a Democrat take the CD-8 seat. I think this year we will.
However..of the Republicans being offered I would much prefer Hellon if we have to (sob)lose. I also believe he would be Giffords' toughest opponent.
The Republican primary has been a source of innocent merriment..You seemed to have mastered a well-established Democratic political practice: The Circular Firing Squad.
'gards
Graf will win if he focuses on the 53% who voted for Bush, unlike his opponents, who are more interested in the 47% who voted for Kerry.
Who paid for these calls? The State Republican Party? Did someone hear the disclaimer?
Not sure about that Borderpatrol.
First, this is an off-year election where turnout will be lower.
Second, turnout will be higher among angry demos and angry independents.
Third, they will be reminded that your party controls the entire machinery of government and just now appear to care about the border problem...during an election year when you all are fighting mad. Also, you created that deficit, not demos, and this war that no one likes.
Finally, of those 53% I wonder how many have changed their minds on how impressive he is. Especially now that his approval ratings are less than 40%.
I hope Graf does go after that 53%.
Roger,
Those are all great points and some of them might work against a person like Kyl. At this point Randy Graf is such and outsider in the GOP that you can’t stick much of the current mess on him. After all he is the one who disagrees with the president.
But please write him off and don’t take him seriously until the last week of the general when it will be too late.
he he.
Can feel things starting to shift.
Yes, PK, I must say that if Graf is a GOP insider, the GOP has a funny way of showing it.
I hope we'll all feel we have something to celebrate tomorrow night.
And then it's a new game.
A new game indeed. Don't worry Phx Kid, there won't be a soul here that will take Graf for granted. In fact, we might take the opportunity to recruit some of you to this side of the fence...or at least to independent (smile).
Best to you tomorrow night, Phoenix...and to YOU X4mr...see you at the party!!!!
Oh...at 8PM the night before the election, I see the Huffman ad on Fox...attacking Graf as the one the liberals want this fall (with pictures of Dean, Hillary, and someone else). Calling him extreme and Huffman the true conservative.
Negative ads the night before the election???
You know, this blog has been a real melting pot of political opinions. Not to get all sentimental on you all, but I'm going to miss all the reaching across the aisle that has happened on here.
To all you Dems, I wish you the best of luck tomorrow that you actually get the candidate that best represents the Democratic Party. That's all I wish for for my fellow Republicans, but it's going to be a fight. To be honest with you, even though none of the Democrat candidates represent my feelings on almost anything, at least most of them seem like sincere people. And at least they have been more or less on the up and up in their primary. If Huffman pulls out a squeaker, there is no way I could support him after what he's proven to be, even if he DOES vote a LITTLE BIT ( and I mean a very little bit) more according to my feelings. He's just not sincere, he's not honest. If I can't trust him even a little bit, then why would I send him to represent me? If he wins, I'll most likely vote Democrat. And I think most conservatives would feel a lot like me, even if they can't bring themselves to actually vote for a democrat, it'll be awfully appealing!
Just wanted to offer a big handshake to you all before this whole thing gets really serious.
Well said Bob,
I have never voted Democrat in my life but if Huffman wins it would be a very real option. I want my U.S. Representative to at least be warm blooded.
Dear Bob...and John:
The kindest and warmest of regards to you for you nice remarks.
Good luck today! With Graf or whomever you support. I will say this, the Giffords folks will warmly welcome you if you choose to vote Democrat this fall.
Somehow, though, I think you are going to get Graf today and we will be battling it out this fall (smile).
Best of luck.
Roger
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