Harry Mitchell

The AZ-1 Democratic primary is turning out to be a contest of Ann Kirkpatrick, her war chest, DCCC support and establishment endorsements from the likes of Gov. Janet Napolitano, Congressman Harry Mitchell and Congresswomen Gabrielle Giffords vs. Howard Shanker and his Indian reservation support.

Congressional candidate Jim Ogsbury: Campaign photoSCOTTSDALE -- Jim Ogsbury knows how to walk neighborhoods. He doesn’t mess with marker caps anymore – “I got sick of fumbling with them,” he explains – now he’s got a retractable one to mark off houses on his walk sheet. He also uses it to knock on doors, joking he “must have permanent tissue damage in my knuckles” from all the doors he’s knocked. By his count, that’s now about 16,000.

Today he is taking his quest for the Republican nomination in the 5th Congressional District to a quiet Scottsdale street, rich in what Ogsbury terms “loyal Republican voters.” He plans to spend the afternoon, from 1:30 until dark, introducing himself to residents of house after house, chatting with the voters inside and putting campaign literature into their hands personally.

Ann Kirkpatrick has picked up another endorsement in her AZ-1 Democratic Primary campaign to succeed Rick Renzi.  Kirkpatrick’s campaign is confirming they have received the endorsement of Congressman Harry Mitchell to go along with Congresswomen Gabrielle Giffords and Governor Janet Napolitano.  Kirkpatrick faces Mary Kim Titla and Howard Shanker in the September primary.  Shanker has received the endorsement of Congressman Raul Grijalva.    

Congressional candidate Susan Bitter Smith: Campaign photo5th Congressional District Republican candidate Susan Bitter Smith continues to blast away at her would-be rival, U.S. Rep. Harry Mitchell (D-Tempe) over his performance in Congress on energy issues, and his association with other Democrats.

The Bitter Smith campaign issued an attack against Mitchell Monday, claiming Mitchell supports a "failed policy" to curb high fuel prices.

"A few short days after Democrats like liberal Harry Mitchell passed on a key opportunity to help forge an American energy policy that would lower gas prices," read a release from the Bitter Smith campaign, "Arizona Democrats invited one of the architects of this failed policy to our state. Rep. Rahm Emanuel, D-Ill, a classic Chicago pol and the Democratic Caucus Chair made an appearance in the Valley this weekend to raise money from Arizonan’s [sic] while perpetuating what Mitchell called 'one of the most costly hidden taxes on the American people,' just two years ago."

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.

Freedom's Watch, the conservative lobbying group formed in part to counter liberal organizations like MoveOn.org, is targeting U.S. Reps. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Tucson) and Harry Mitchell (D-Tempe) in a round of robo-calls this week. The freshman Democrats' districts are among 16 nationwide Freedom's Watch has selected for the calls, which blame congressional Democrats for high fuel prices.

According to an accompanying press release put out by Freedom's Watch, the Democrats are being lambasted for "standing between Americans and increased domestic energy production."

“Instead of standing in the way of responsible domestic production," said Foster Morss, communications director of Freedom's Watch, "[Giffords and Mitchell] need to lead the charge to increase American oil to relieve the intense pressure residents are feeling from high gas prices.”

The continuing allegations of ethics violations against U.S. Rep. Charlie Rangel (D-N.Y.) may have consequences for Democratic politicians across the country, including in Arizona. Today, in their third such attack, the National Republican Congressional Committee is calling on 1st Congressional District candidate Ann Kirkpatrick to return campaign contributions she received from Rangel. The NRCC had previously called for U.S. Reps. Harry Mitchell (D-Tempe) and Gabrielle Giffords (D-Tucson) to do the same.

“Ann Kirkpatrick is not a voice for change, she is status-quo politician willing to get elected to Congress any way she can,” said NRCC Spokesman Ken Spain in a press release. “If Kirkpatrick wants to separate herself from a corrupt politician and an unpopular Democrat Majority in Congress, she will return the campaign checks she took from Rep. Charlie Rangel.”

U.S. Rep. Harry Mitchell (D-Tempe) raised $337,000 during the second quarter of the year, according to his campaign manager Seth Scott. Scott told PolitickerAZ.com that Mitchell has now raised $1.71 million for his re-election, and now has a cash on hand balance of $1.37 million.

The new totals indicate that Mitchell raised almost twice as much as the most prolific fundraiser in the Republican field, David Schweikert. Schweikert, who is running to win the 5th Congressional District Republican nomination to face Mitchell in November, has not released official numbers yet, but they will be in the $160,000 to $180,000 range for the quarter. Susan Bitter Smith is one of two candidates in the 5th district Republican race who has not yet released her fundraising totals, and may put up an impressive showing. However, it would be a major coup if she outdid Schweikert in the second quarter.

U.S. Rep. Harry Mitchell (D-Tempe) is lobbying House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) to include a renewal of  alternative energy investment tax credits in a new economic stimulus package. In a letter sent to Pelosi on Monday, Mitchell wrote, "I believe we have a real opportunity to brighten our future by investing in solar energy. "In Arizona, we’re lucky to enjoy more than 300 days of sunshine a year," wrote Mitchell. "Investing in solar energy is vital to Arizona’s economy."

Specifically, Mitchell addressed the need for the tax credits, set to expire at the end of the year, to proceed with the proposed Solana solar power generating station, a $1 billion project to be constructed near Gila Bend.

David Schweikert's campaign is estimating it brought in around $183,000 in contributions during the second quarter of the year, outdoing 1Q, where he led the 5th Congressional District Republican field.

A campaign press release, which ran with the headline "DCCC Commits $1.7 Million to Protect Mitchell," stated:

"Our campaign has been ecstatic with the amount of financial support we have received thus far. To date, this campaign has brought in over $865,000 from over 1500 individuals like yourself. This however is just over half what the DCCC just committed."

The Schweikert campaign, which has not officially released its 2Q numbers, had raised $681,353 as of the end of the first quarter. The statement that the campaign has "to date brought in over $865,000" would indicate that Schweikert raised at least $183,647 between April 1 and July 1.