Debating what IL-14 means for AZ-3

Democrat Bill Foster’s Saturday victory in IL-14 is not necessarily a reason for optimism for those Democrats who are gunning for Republican John Shadegg’s Third District seat, Republican Corporation Commissioner Jeff Hatch-Miller said today.

“I don’t believe Congressional District 3 is in any danger,” Hatch-Miller told PolitickerAZ.com

Hatch-Miller argued that Shadegg was a popular figure who might contend for Arizona Senator John McCain’s seat in 2010 should McCain win the presidency or retire from the senate.

A Janet Napolitano-John Shadegg race for the U.S. Senate, Hatch-Miller said, “would be one to watch.”

“It would be the 'Thrilla’ in Arizona!'” he said.

Not everyone sees an easy path to victory in November for Shadegg.

"Foster's victory in a very conservative district, Denny Hastert's old seat, should scare Republicans like John Shadegg who represent historically conservative districts,” says a Democratic strategist with Arizona ties. “There are no safe Republican seats in 2008, especially when the national GOP spent 20% of their cash-on-hand and still lost... by six percent!"