Andre Campos

Andre Campos, Arizona Director of Texas Rep. Ron Paul's

Andre Campos, Arizona Director of Texas Rep. Ron Paul's insurgent Republican candidacy, has filed to run against state Sen. Rebecca Rios (D-Hayden) in LD23.

Rios turned in 681 signatures to qualify for the ballot. He is the sole Republican facing Rios, the state Senate Minority Whip and four-term legislator. Campos had wanted to turn in 700 signatures, and came just 19 shy.

While Campos won't be getting any help from Paul, he does anticipate that his association with Paul will prove a boon to his campaign.

"Probably a lot of the people that supported Ron Paul in my district will support me as well," said Campos.

Arizona Republican Party Chairman Randy Pullen appeared with the sole remaining challenger to Sen. John McCain's presidential nomination at an event in Phoenix last night. Though this has rankled some Arizona Republicans who perceive disloyalty toward Sen. McCain in the appearance, both Pullen and the Paul campaign say it was simply a show of Republican solidarity, rather than a sly rebuke to the presumptive nominee.

Given the checkered history between Pullen and Sen. McCain, some Republicans questioned the wisdom of the chairman appearing with Paul, whose supporters have often been vocal in their opposition to McCain. However, Andre Campos, Paul's Arizona director, took pains to alleviate fears that Paul supporters will do anything to embarrass McCain or the Republican Party.