AZ-8

U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Tucson) has raised over $2.7 million and has $2.147 million on hand as of Aug. 13, according to figures released by the campaign Wednesday.

Between July 1 and the second week of August, the campaign reported raising $230,000, including donations from 500 new contributors.

"The large number of individual contributors is a clear indication of the kind of deep 'cactus roots' support that Gabrielle Giffords has," said Michael McNulty, who chairs Giffords's campaign. "This will be tough campaign but Gabrielle knows she has the people on her side."

Tom Dunn, campaign spokesman for Tim Bee for Congress, is pushing back against demands by Pima Democrats that the campaign pay the costs incurred to the city of Tucson and Pima County due to the visit of Pres. Bush on Bee's behalf.

"The campaign has paid the expenses based on longstanding regulations," said Dunn in a statement. "The White House has a formula that has been in place since Reagan that has been adhered to by Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton and George W. Bush."

Dunn's response came as prominent Pima County Democratic officials, including Pima County Board of Supervisors Chairman Richard Elias, Tucson Vice Mayor Karen Uhlich and Pima County Democratic Party Chairman Vince Rabago gathered at a press conference to demand the campaign reimburse the city and county the estimated $99,000 spent on law enforcement escorts for Bush's July 17 visit.  

In both the 3rd and 8th Congressional Districts, challengers and incumbents have begun the process of negotiating when and how debates will occur between them. Sen. Pres. Tim Bee (R-Tucson) is in talks with his opponent, U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Tucson) about the possibilities, as are U.S. Rep. John Shadegg (R-Phoenix) and his challenger, Bob Lord. 

On July 30, 3rd district Democratic contender Bob Lord's campaign sent a letter to the campaign of U.S. Rep. John Shadegg (R-Phoenix) requesting a series of three debates during September and October, each to focus on "a related set of issues facing our nation," suh as "national security, foreign policy, and veterans issues," etc. Andrew Eldredge-Martin, Lord's campaign manager and the one who sent off the letter, stipulated that his organization wanted the debates prior to the start of early voting on Oct. 2. The Lord campaign officially announced the invitation Thursday.

Shadegg has responded with a counter-offer: "six televised debates with each covering the broad range of issues important to the voters of Congressional District 3." Shadegg campaign manager Sean Noble said in his letter to the Lord camapign, "We agree there should be some debates prior to early voting, but in fairness to all of the voters in the District, there should be others after early voting starts." Noble proposed the first debate be on KAET's Horizon program. So far the Lord campaign has not responded back.

The campaign of U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Tucson) unveiled a new ad Friday set to begin running throughout the 8th Congressional District in heavy rotation. The new spot, entitled "Generations," puts the focus on issues concerning veterans' care, and highlights what she considers to be her main accomplishments in that arena.

While Giffords's opponent, state Sen. Pres. Tim Bee (R-Tucson) hit the airwaves long ago, this is the first excursion into TV advertising for the incumbent. However, according to numbers from the campaign, the ad buy is massive - around $50,000 for the first week alone.

U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Tucson) announced the formation of the group Veterans for Giffords Wednesday to bolster her support among that key demographic in the 8th Congressional District. Gen. John A. Wickham (ret.), who served as Army Chief of Staff to Pres. Reagan, will co-chair the organization.

The Giffords campaign estimates that around 90,000 veterans reside in the 8th district, the most of any of Arizona's congressional districts. Veterans' issues have topped the Democratic congressional agenda during this session, and Giffords is trying to capitalize on their successes.

"The reasons for re-electing Giffords... can be found in her solid record of accomplishment," said the release announcing the inception of Veterans for Giffords. It went on to list key bills, including the Wounded Warriors Act and the updated G.I. Bill, introduced by Giffords's fellow Democratic freshman, U.S. Rep. Harry Mitchell (D-Tempe).

State Sen. Pres. Tim Bee (R-Tucson) will team up with U.S. Rep. Tom Cole (R-Okla.) Tuesday to address veterans' issues at a Veterans of Foreign Wars hall in Tucson.

Cole, Chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee, is in town to assist Bee in his drive to win the 8th Congressional District seat, which is currently held by U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Tucson).

In addition to veteran-related matters, Bee and Cole will also address national security topics, according to an announcement put out by the Bee campaign.

Nearly half of Arizona's eight congressional districts are listed as being among the most competitive in the country this fall, a new Politicker.com analysis shows.

The Pindell Report, which launched today, shows that only much larger states like Pennsylvania, New York, Illinois and Florida have more competitive House elections. Even California just has two races that are competitive.

"Arizona is one of the most interesting states in the country politically," said James Pindell, the Managing Editor of Politicker.com. "Not only is it the home of John McCain, but also of a state that is growing in its influence in Washington."

Call it a game of guilt by association. U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Tucson) wants to paint her challenger as a slave to the Republican Party, and Arizona Senate President Tim Bee (R-Tucson) wants to flip the accusation back on Giffords and the Democrats.

Since announcing his intention to run for Congress in January, Bee has fundraised and campaigned with such Republican Party bigwigs as Karl Rove, Steve Forbes, Elaine Chao, Grover Norquist, and George W. Bush. And Democrats want to make sure voters know it.

“Having the president campaign for you is a very big deal,” Giffords said of Bush’s July fundraiser in Tucson which reportedly netted Bee’s campaign coffers $600,000. “I think it’s important for the people of southern Arizona to know if the Senator supports the president of the United States on issues.”

“He has embraced one of the worst presidents in American history,” said Emily DeRose, a spokeswoman for the Arizona Democratic Party. “It seems to me a reasonable assumption to make that who your friends are would dictate where you are on policy.”

The new 2008 House Rothenberg Report has been released and three Arizona seats remain on the list. AZ-1 has moved from a a Pure Toss-Up in April to a Toss-Up/Tilt Democrat now. Both AZ-5 and AZ-8 remain as Lean Democrat seats.

The Tim Bee campaign announced the launch of a new ad Tuesday in his effort to unseat U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Tucson).

The ad, entitled "Accomplishments," highlights Bee's record as state senate president, and features residents of the 8th Congressional District saying they are "with Tim Bee."

See the ad here.