Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee released a new ad Wednesday against 1st Congressional District Republican candidate Sydney Hay, blasting her for being a "corporate lobbyist in the pocket of big business" and for wanting to "privatize Social Security."

This is the second ad from the DCCC that makes an issue of Hay's lobbying activities. Hay is president of the Arizona Mining Association, which represents mining companies to the state and federal government.

The congressional campaign of state Sen. Pres. Tim Bee (R-Tucson) fired back Wednesday against an ad  by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee that began running Tuesday in the 8th Congressional District, and which criticizes Bee for not paying the extra security costs associated with Pres. Bush's  fundraising  visit  to Tucson on Bee's behalf.

"These assaults from Washington are simply an attempt to distract the voters and protect one of their own (the incumbent). They aren’t promoting ideas or solutions…just misinformation; in a blatant attempt to bring Arizona politics down into the gutter,"  read  a  release from the Bee campaign.

"Tim Bee loves George Bush," the DCCC ad begins, "supports his economic policies and staying in Iraq. So Bush came to tucson to raise big bucks at a private fundraiser for Tim Bee. Then Bee stuck local taxpayers with the security bill."

The claim is based on a story originally reported in the Tucson Citizen on Aug. 19, in which it was revealed that providing Bush with extra Tucson police and Pima County sheriff's deputies cost the city and county almost $100,000.  

The David Schweikert campaign is calling its release of an attack on U.S. Rep. Harry Mitchell on Sept. 11 the result of an "honest mistake."During the seventh anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, most political campaigns around the country honored an unofficial "truce" whereby negative campaigning was suspended.

However, two items appeared on David Schweikert's website on Sept. 11 that were not in keeping with the one-day cease fire. One announced the launch of Schweikert's first TV ad in the general election, which criticizes Mitchell for negative campaigning and says Mitchell "blocked new drilling for American energy." The other release focused on the drilling issue.

Sydney Hay, who eked out a narrow victory against Sandra Livingstone and others in the 1st Congressional District Republican primary Tuesday, immediately went on the attack against the new Democratic nominee, Ann Kirkpatrick.

"The voters of the First District of Arizona want someone who will shake up Washington," said Hay. "My track record of accomplishment bringing meaningful conservative change cannot be matched by Ann Kirkpatrick, whose legislative accomplishments are next to nil.”

Hay went on to say Kirkpatrick was "wrong on all" of the issues important to voters in the 1st distrtict, and said she had a "shockingly liberal voting record."   

Former state representative Ann Kirkpatrick is the winner in the 1st Congressional District Democratic primary.

With around 70 percent of votes counted, Kirkpatrick has 49.8 percent of the vote, making it statistically impossible for any of her rivals to catch up.

Kirkpatrick has been the favorite in the race from the start, earning a spot in the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee's Red to Blue program - a rare feat for a primary candidate. Kirkpatrick also gained the backing of the Arizona Democratic Party and a host of Democratic elected officials.

Former television personality Mary Kim Titla put up a strong showing - she now has over 31 percent of the vote. Attorney Howard Shanker's share stands at more than 13 percent, while dark horse Jeffrey Brown has gained around 6 percent.

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.

1st Congressional District candidate Ann Kirkpatrick has launched a television ad, the first of any candidate in either the Democratic or Republican primary contests.

The Kirkpatrick campaign calls the ad "the latest sign that momentum favors Kirkpatrick in one of the nation's most competitive races this election cycle." 

Kirkpatrick, a former state representative, enjoys a major cash advantage over all other candidates of both parties, and has been put in the Red to Blue program of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, an unusual move by the DCCC, which usually stays out of primary battles. Kirkpatrick faces rivals Howard Shanker, Mary Kim Titla and Jeffrey Brown in her quest for the Democratic nomination.

The ad, called "I'll Never Forget," began airing Friday.

U.S. Rep. Gabrielle GiffordsThe Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is reserving $705,000 worth of TV ads in the 8th Congressional District to help re-elect U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Tucson), according to documents obtained by PolitickerAZ.com.

The independent expenditure reserves 5,000 commercial spots to run in the 8th district, likely during September and October.

As pointed out in the Washington Post:

"Political parties and candidates frequently reserve advertising time in advance to obtain a lower price from television stations than might be available later. Final decisions on spending are normally made closer to the elections."

The Arizona Heritage Dinner, a fundraising event for the Arizona Democratic Party, brought in over $600,000, according to party spokeswoman Emily DeRose.

The dinner, which was held in Phoenix Sunday, featured U.S. Rep. Rahm Emanuel (D.-Ill.), the chairman of the House Democratic Caucus and the former head of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. Emanuel is credited as the architect of the Democrats' gains in 2006, enabling the party to recapture control of the House.

Also in attendance were Gov. Janet Napolitano, U.S. Reps. Harry Mitchell (D-Tempe) and Gabrielle Giffords (D-Tucson), Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard and Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon.

A looming close to the 2nd quarter reporting period (totals are due at midnight, June 30) means congressional candidates making a final push to ramp up their takes. The 3rd Congressional District race, which pits incumbent U.S. Rep. John Shadegg (R-Phoenix) against Democratic attorney Bob Lord, is no exception.

The candidates are symmetrical in their arguments. Both Lord and Shadegg paint the other as beholden to the establishment of his party, and both argue they need funds to counter attacks the other will mount.