NRCC

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.”

According to a Washington Post story, the NRCC is trying to learn from recent defeats and House Minority Leader John Boehner is looking into changes that could help the party in the future.

One such policy change is in regards to competitive primaries. The NRCC will now consider getting involved in competitive primaries if the party believes one candidate is clearly a stronger general election bet than the their primary opponents.

So the question is would the NRCC consider getting involved in Arizona’s 5th CD? Two prominent Arizona Republicans with close ties to the NRCC both have said they have had no indication it would happen in Arizona this cycle. One source said “While I have not heard it is ruled out, it is highly unlikely. There are a few very good candidates and one does not stand out above the others the best general election hope.”

Democrats say they have an interest in further pursuing the details surrounding Republican Congressman John Shadegg’s district office, which has been located in Congressman Ed Pastor’s Fourth district, as the Washington newspaper Roll Call reported Tuesday.

Almost a month after State Representative Bill Konopnicki announced he would not seek the open CD1 seat, rumors continue to swirl that the NRCC is continuing to look for Konopnicki to enter.   read more »

Rep. Harry Mitchell aroused the enmity of Republicans over a motion to recommit vote the GOP claims hurt taxpayers. But there was more to it than that - a lot more.

“Harry Mitchell once again failed the constituents of Arizona's 5th Congressional District," said National Republican Congressional Committee spokesman Ken Spain today, blasting Mitchell over his vote against a motion to make the child tax credit permanent and eliminate the "marriage penalty."  read more »

Yesterday's big national news - other than Mitt Romney's endorsement of Sen. John McCain - was a walkout by the Republican caucus in the U.S. House.  read more »