Jim Kolbe

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.”

More from PolitickerAZ.com: Kolbe, Bush put AZ-8 back in national spotlight

Former U.S. Rep. Jim KolbeThe decision by former U.S. Rep. Jim Kolbe to back out of actively supporting state Sen. President Tim Bee (R-Tucson) in his congressional campaign has caused a stir among the nation's political media - as has the announced fundraising trip by President Bush on behalf of Bee.

Kolbe's move was first reported by the Sierra Vista Herald on Friday, and since has been picked up by The National Journal's Hotline and RealClearPolitics.com.

The Hotline article praised Bee as a better candidate for the seat than Randy Graf, the Republican nominee current U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Tucson) defeated in 2006, for his "image as a bipartisan legislator." The article also noted, however, that Bee's social conservatism might be out of step with some Republicans in the district.

Today former U.S. Rep. Jim Kolbe (R-8) bestowed his blessing upon CD5 Republican congressional candidate Jim Ogsbury, who is currently engaged in a five-way primary.

"Jim Ogsbury is a principled conservative with deep Arizona roots and an understanding of the issues that face our state and our nation,” said Kolbe.  “He has the toughness and the experience needed to get the Congress working for the interests of people again."

Ogsbury responded with kind words of his own toward the former congressman.

"I am sincerely grateful to sreceive the support of a statesman like Jim Kolbe,” said Ogsbury. “Congressman Kolbe served his district honorably for more than two decades, advancing free trade, protecting military institutions in his district and attending to the needs of his constituents.”

Republican Party leaders will be on hand to raise funds for the congressional campaign of state Sen. Tim Bee (R-Tucson) Thursday in Washington, D.C. The reception, which will cost contributors $500/person (or $1,000 for a PAC contribution), is set to feature the top two Republicans in the house, Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) and Minority Whip Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), as well as nine other Republican House members.

The three Republican representatives in the Arizona delegation who are seeking re-election will be appearing: Reps. Jeff Flake, Trent Franks and John Shadegg, as well as Jim Kolbe, who held the 8th Congressional District seat Bee is trying to take away from Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, Kolbe's successor.

In order to appear at the fundraiser at 5:30 EDT, Bee will not be able to preside over the Arizona Senate or participate in ongoing budget negotiations. Bee has been criticized by Democrats for campaigning while a constitutional deadline to settle the budget looms.

On Friday, State Senate President Tim Bee joined former CD8 Congressman Jim Kolbe to discuss why America needs the Colombia Free Trade Agreement, and why the Democratic leadership on Capitol Hill won't allow a vote on it.

District 8 Democrat Gabby Giffords has been serving in the U.S. Congress for little more than a year, but she is already looking at a tough battle for re-election.

“Republicans will make it as tough as possible for her,” says Giffords campaign chair Michael McNulty.

Republicans have chosen a candidate to face off against Giffords: State Senate president Tim Bee.