Arizona Democratic Party

1st Congressional District Republican candidate Sydney Hay today unveiled her "plan for energy independence," a five-point policy that calls for increased domestic oil exploration, expansion of refineries, new nuclear power plants, investment in clean coal technology and an alternative energy tax credit.

At the same time, the Arizona Democratic Party is stepping up attacks against the leading Republican in the field, saying her stance that the U.S. may need to keep troops in Iraq "past 2010."

"Congress has failed us in the area of energy and has tied America's hands when it comes to providing for our energy needs," wrote Hay in the statement announcing the plan.

U.S. Sen. John McCain: Getty Images PhotoThe Southwest regional headquarters of U.S. Sen. John McCain's presidential campaign is now officially up and running, after a grand opening ceremony Friday that brought out prominent Arizona Republicans - including U.S. Sen. Jon Kyl (R-Phoenix) - as well as up to 100 protesters denouncing the senator from Phoenix.

The new headquarters will house a call center and offices to coordinate efforts in Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Nevada - all of which, besides Arizona, are swing states that could prove vital to Sen. McCain winning the presidency. As the festivities got underway, the room was packed to the hilt with McCain supporters, including Arizona Republican Party officials, office holders and office seekers.

"Today is a very proud day," said Bettina Nava, Southwest Regional Director of McCain's campaign. "Arizona has always overwhelmingly to elect John McCain, and we think that history will continue."

Congressional candidate Mary Kim Titla: Campaign photoOn Friday, the Maricopa County Superior Court will hear arguments on whether to include or expunge hundreds of signatures gathered by state Sen. Albert Hale (D-Window Rock), state Rep. Albert Tom (D-Chambers) and 2nd Legislative District House candidate Chris Deschene, on the basis that the signatories gave post office boxes for their addresses.

At a press conference outside the Capitol, 1st Congressional District candidate Mary Kim Titla was joined by Native American activists, former 3rd Congressional District candidate Annie Loyd and Arizona Democratic Party officials to denounce the challenges as discriminatory toward Native Americans, many of whom live on reservations and don't have physical addresses recognized by the U.S. Postal Service.

"Every single one of them does have a physical address," said Tupac Enrique Acosta, who is director of the Phoenix-based Tonatierra Community Development Institute. Acosta said the post office is to blame for not finding a better way to handle addresses on reservations. "These discrepancies have existed... since Arizona and New Mexico were territories," he said.

Newly released data from Arizona Secretary of State Jan Brewer's office shows the Arizona Democratic Party has grown its ranks by almost 20,000 registered voters since March, over twice as many as new Republicans or independents added.

According to the Arizona Republican Party, though, the secretary of state's figures can be misleading, and don't take into account factors such as purges in voter rolls, the impact of the Democratic presidential primary and underhanded tactics by Democratically-affiliated groups.

"Democrats' efforts to move Arizona forward and put this country back on track are clearly moving new voters to register as Democrats," said Don Bivens, Arizona Democratic Party chairman, in a release announcing the numbers. "These new registration figures confirm our Party's upward trajectory in Arizona. These new registrations also confirm our excellent opportunities to pick up Congressional and state Legislative seats in November."

Democrats have been making strides toward leveling the playing field with their GOP rivals in terms of voter registration since the 2006 election, and now lag behind Arizona Republicans by around 110,000 voters. In 2006, Republicans had over 150,000 more voters than Democrats in Arizona.

The Arizona Democratic Party is hitting a trio of Republican candidates over their tax policies, echoing an assault against 5th Congressional District Republican candidate David Schweikert by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee last week. Schweikert is joined in the Democrats' crosshairs by 1st Congressional District Republican front-runner Sydney Hay and incumbent U.S. Rep. John Shadegg (R-Phoenix), as the Democrats attempt to paint the three as advocating higher food prices through new taxes.

However, the Schweikert campaign is attempting to turn the attack back around on the Arizona Democrats by taking issue with their characterization of his stance, and leveling a similar charge against U.S. Rep. Harry Mitchell (D-Tempe).

The Democrats argue that Hay, Schweikert and Shadegg support a national sales tax of 23 percent, which they say would have the effect of raising food prices commensurately. Hay and Schweikert have espoused support for the so-called "FairTax," which proponents claim is a more equitable alternative to the federal income tax, and Shadegg cosponsored H.R. 25, which put the FairTax theory into legislative form. 

The re-election campaign of U.S. Rep. Harry Mitchell says they've had trackers at their offices and at events, both in 2006 and this year. Seth Scott, Mitchell's campaign manager, additionally said the campaign's sentiments regarding tracking in the 5th Congressional District race have been mischaracterized, and that they are simply used to tracking, not practicioners of it.

"Congressman Mitchell has been followed around and videotaped by the other party for two years — whether in Washington or home in Arizona," Scott told PolitickerAZ.com via email. "In fact, just last week, we had someone at our office opening videotaping our supporters, our staff and the Congressman."

U.S. Rep. Harry MitchellLaura Knaperek, candidate in the 5th Congressional District Republican primary, has asked Arizona Democratic Party Chairman Don Bivens to facilitate a series of debates between her and U.S. Rep. Harry Mitchell (D-Tempe) - a proposal that will not likely be seized upon by Democrats.

"Since Congressman Mitchell’s staff keeps him sequestered," read the letter, "I am hoping that in your capacity as state Democratic Party chair that you would encourage Congressman Mitchell to actually talk with the voters about the issues they care about.

I propose that over the next 90 days Rep. Mitchell and I conduct no fewer than five debates, co-hosted by my campaign and the Arizona Democratic Party to share with the voters where we stand on the issues.

It is my sincere hope that Rep. Mitchell will be receptive to your overtures and that we can agree on the terms of the debates and engage our fellow Americans."

The Arizona Democratic Party admits it sent an employee to track attendees of a private fundraiser for 5th Congressional District Republican candidate Laura Knaperek, after the incident was exposed on the J.D. Hayworth Show.

Lauren Barnett, Knaperek's campaign manager, decried the incident Wednesday on the KFYI program of former congressman J.D. Hayworth, who was defeated as an incumbent by Harry Mitchell. According to Barnett, guests at a Knaperek fundraising event noticed a man taking pictures of people coming and going and the license plates of vehicles parked outside. The Knaperek campaign asked him who he was, and he told them his name was David Judd, and he worked for the Arizona Democratic Party.

"This is undemocratic, this is reprehensible. What ever happened to freedom of association?" asked Barnett on Hayworth's show.

Emily DeRose, spokeswoman for the Arizona Democratic Party, said she doesn't see anything undemocratic or reprehensible about the Democrats keeping tabs on their opponents. 

"Of course we keep track of what Rep. Mitchell's opponents are saying and doing," said DeRose. "It's part of our due diligence as they run for office."

Moments after polls closed in South Dakota, one of the two remaining primary states who both held their contests today, Arizona Democratic Party Chairman Don Bivens announced he is backing Sen. Barack Obama (D.-Ill.) for president.

"Now that our historic season of caucuses and primaries is behind us, it is time for each superdelegate to choose between two outstanding candidates," Bivens said. "For me, that choice is Senator Barack Obama. He is an extraordinary leader, with the ability to bring people together across party lines to solve problems. That is exactly what our country and our state need right now, a pragmatic change of direction."

Bivens is a Democratic Party superdelegate, meaning he can cast his vote at the Democratic National Convention for whomever he chooses. Superdelegates have been flocking to Obama over the past few days as the nomination fight wraps up, and Obama is expected to clinch the necessary 2,118 delegates tonight after the South Dakota and Montana results are in. He is expected to win both states.

Arizona Democratic Party has accused John McCain abandoning veterans today when he failed to show up for a vote on the 21st Century GI Bill.

"Anyone who wants the honor of being Commander-in-Chief should answer the question of what our troops deserve in thanks for their service," said Maria Weeg, executive director of the Arizona Democratic Party. "John McCain's failure to show up for this vote tells me that he cares more about his own political ambitions than our brave men and women who's he's telling to fend for themselves."

Inside Edge also took a look at a back and forth between McCain and presidential opponent Barack Obama over the issue.