Seth Scott

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)Seth Scott, campaign manager for the re-election campaign of U.S. Rep. Harry Mitchell (D-Tempe), is responding to charges of inaction by Mitchell on the issue of the nation's energy crisis, which has been the main line of attack against the freshman Democrat.

"Harry has been talking about energy for two years now," Scott told PolitickerAZ.com. "To say that his position isn't clear indicates some people haven't been paying attention."

Mitchell has come under fire from his prospective opponents, who are engaged in a six-way Republican primary to face him on the general election ballot, as well as the National Republican Congressional Committee for what they characterize as the failures of the Democratic-controlled U.S. House, and Mitchell in specific, to take action on high gas prices.

The re-election campaign of U.S. Rep. Harry Mitchell says they've had trackers at their offices and at events, both in 2006 and this year. Seth Scott, Mitchell's campaign manager, additionally said the campaign's sentiments regarding tracking in the 5th Congressional District race have been mischaracterized, and that they are simply used to tracking, not practicioners of it.

"Congressman Mitchell has been followed around and videotaped by the other party for two years — whether in Washington or home in Arizona," Scott told PolitickerAZ.com via email. "In fact, just last week, we had someone at our office opening videotaping our supporters, our staff and the Congressman."

U.S. Rep. Harry MitchellLaura Knaperek, candidate in the 5th Congressional District Republican primary, has asked Arizona Democratic Party Chairman Don Bivens to facilitate a series of debates between her and U.S. Rep. Harry Mitchell (D-Tempe) - a proposal that will not likely be seized upon by Democrats.

"Since Congressman Mitchell’s staff keeps him sequestered," read the letter, "I am hoping that in your capacity as state Democratic Party chair that you would encourage Congressman Mitchell to actually talk with the voters about the issues they care about.

I propose that over the next 90 days Rep. Mitchell and I conduct no fewer than five debates, co-hosted by my campaign and the Arizona Democratic Party to share with the voters where we stand on the issues.

It is my sincere hope that Rep. Mitchell will be receptive to your overtures and that we can agree on the terms of the debates and engage our fellow Americans."

Seth Scott, campaign manager for U.S. Rep. Harry Mitchell's re-election bid, told PolitickerAZ.com he is calling for the Susan Bitter Smith campaign to apologize for accusations made in a press release Tuesday.

The Bitter Smith campaign claimed several residents reported receiving calls that were "unflattering" toward Bitter Smith and another 5th district Republican, David Schweikert.

Brian Hummell, Smith's campaign manager, sent out a press release Tuesday saying Mitchell's campaign had "initiated" the calls, but offered no evidence to support the claim. Mitchell's campaign has denied having anything to do with them.

Hummell admitted to PolitickerAZ.com that whoever was conducting the poll would likely not be traced back to Mitchell's campaign, but maintained that the source had to originally lie with the incumbent's organization.

AZ-5 Republican primary candidate and Arizona cable industry lobbyist Susan Bitter Smith is charging that the campaign of U.S. Rep. Harry Mitchell (D-Tempe) has been "push polling" in the 5th Congressional District - a charge the Mitchell campaign denies.

"Reports have surfaced that the Mitchell campaign has initiated a push pull [sic] in the District specifically targeting Susan," read a press release put out by the Bitter Smith campaign. 

"This is coming from supporters of ours who say they’ve gotten calls from people saying unflattering things about Susan and another candidate," said Brian Hummell, Bitter Smith's campaign manager, to PolitickerAZ.com. When asked if the other candidate was fellow 5th district competitor David Schweikert, Hummell said, "I believe so."

For the third time in a week, the National Republican Congressional Committee is going after U.S. Reps. Harry Mitchell (D-Tempe) and Gabrielle Giffords (D-Tucson) over the price of gasoline, while the Mitchell campaign hits back.

In one of its most scathing indictments to date against the two freshman Democrats, the NRCC called them "staunch opponent[s] of sensible solutions to the energy crisis" and accused them of having a "'do-nothing' approach" to high gas prices.

Specifically, the releases against Giffords and Mitchell were critical of their "voting...to block the House from debating any amendment aimed at reducing the cost of gas." The amendment was offered by Arizona U.S. Rep. John Shadegg (R-Phoenix), but was blocked by the Rules Committee that limited amendments to one section of the bill.

U.S. Rep. Harry Mitchell (AZ-5) has a new communications director: Joni McGlothlin, a former political researcher for NBC News and White House producer for the Japanese network NHK (Japan Broadcasting Network), the second-largest public broadcaster in the world.

With former communications director Seth Scott taking over as Mitchell's campaign manager, the 29-year-old McGlothlin has been chosen to fill his shoes. She relocated to Scottsdale six months ago with her husband, Scottsdale native and attorney Eric McGlothlin, who works in the firm Gust Rosenfeld.

Seth Scott, who has been the communications director for Rep. Harry Mitchell (D-5) since he assumed office, is changing hats. As of today, Scott is taking over as Mitchell's campaign manager.

In the interim, Robbie Sherwood will be acting as Mitchell's press contact until a replacement can be found.

Rep. Harry Mitchell's push to secure more GI Bill benefits for vets returning from Iraq and Afghanistan has become his most visible legislative initiative since assuming office.

Now, with a majority of the House - including over 50 Republicans - signed on to the legislation, and close to a filibuster-proof majority of senators sponsoring or cosponsoring the Senate counterpart, the Post-9/11 GI Bill looks poised to be included as part of the war spending supplemental - its best chance of passage this year.