Dems plot strategy on Shadegg office

Democrats say they have an interest in further pursuing the details surrounding Republican Congressman John Shadegg’s district office, which has been located in Congressman Ed Pastor’s Fourth district, as the Washington newspaper Roll Call reported Tuesday.

Several Arizona Democrats said they wanted to find out what the rules and penalties were for a Representative to maintain an out-of-district office.

From a strategic perspective, Democrats believe the issue plays into a broader argument about Shadegg, an eight-term incumbent from Phoenix.

“It builds into an argument that he’s out of touch,” said a Democratic strategist, who said the charge could become the subject of a mailer later on in the campaign.

But National Republican Congressional Committee spokesman Ken Spain said Democrats are trying to make an issue out of something that isn’t.

“If this is the best Democrats can come up with then they are in as bad a shape as we have said they are all along,” said Spain.

“This is a classic example of Democrats throwing mud at a wall and trying to make it stick.”