J.P. Twist

David Schweikert

David Schweikert, Republican candidate for the 5th Congressional District seat, is calling a mail piece sent out by the Arizona Democratic Party "shameful," saying it unfairly attacks Schweikert for his pro-life stance.

"David Schweikert if out of step with mainstream Arizona," reads the mailer. "He would overturn Roe v. Wade and opposes a woman's right to choose even in cases of rape and incest.

"It's time to tell politicians with extreme positions like David Schweikert that women want and deserve control over their own bodies," the ad concludes.

"It just shows how desperate the Democrats are in district five," wrote Schweikert communications director J.P. Twist.

Twist went on to say that due to Schweikert's personal history, the ad crosses a line. Schweikert was put up for adoption by a young mother who was counseled against having an abortion.

The campaign of U.S. Rep. Harry Mitchell (D-Tempe) is claiming that a new ad by Mitchell's 5th Congressional District opponent, Republican David Schweikert, violates Federal Communications Commission rules, and the consequences could be costly for the challenger.

Mitchell's campaign claimed in a press release that this latest ad by Schweikert violates the guidelines "outlined by the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002, which is commonly referred to as the McCain-Feingold Campaign Reform Law," by failing to include Schweikert's image for at least four seconds at the end of the ad.

The FCC requires that broadcast stations provide qualified candidates, such as Mitchell and Schweikert, with the "lowest unit charge" available for advertising within 60 days of a general election, meaning that political candidates are entitled to pay as low a cost as any advertiser on a station as long as they follow certain guidelines.

Watch the ad here.

The release goes on to say, "Schweikert’s false and negative attack ad, which began airing Monday, is within 60 days of a general election and made a direct reference to Mitchell, does not display an image of Schweikert at any time during the last four seconds of the ad, and therefore does not meet the FCC’s 'stand by your ad' requirements."

Lauren Barnett has left her post as the communications director for the David Schweikert congressional campaign, she and the campaign told PolitickerAZ.com Friday.

Barnett, who was the campaign manager for unsuccessful 5th Congressional District Republican primary candidate Laura Knaperek, made the switch to Knaperek's former rival Schweikert after the latter secured the nomination in September.

However, Barnett is now leaving to work on the Clean Coal campaign in Virginia, according to her replacement, J.P. Twist.