In 2006, former Tempe Mayor Harry Mitchell (D) road the national Democratic wave and unseated conservative ideologue Rep. J.D. Hayworth (R)--who is now running against Sen. John McCain (R) in the Senate GOP primary.
Mitchell was targeted by national Republicans in 2008 in this district centered around Scottsdale and Tempe, but he ended up with a narrow eight-point victory over former Maricopa County Treasurer David Schweikert (R).
But given that John McCain defeated Barack Obama in this district 52% to 47% in the presidential race, and the fact that Republicans will have a much more favorable political landscape this cycle, the NRCC thinks they have a good shot at unseating Mitchell this time around. Mitchell has also been placed on the DCCC's "Frontline" program for vulnerable Democratic incumbents.
Schweikert is running for the GOP nomination again, but he will not have the field to himself. He'll be joined by businessman Jim Ward (who, like Schweikert, is "On the Radar" in the NRCC recruitment program), physician Chris Salvino, and former state Rep. Susan Bitter Smith.
PVI: R+5
Harry Mitchell*: Raised $196,000 in Q1; $901,000 cash-on-hand
David Schweikert: Raised $102,000 in Q1; $398,000 cash-on-hand
Jim Ward: Raised $150,000 in Q1; $366,000 cash-on-hand
Chris Salvino: Raised $64,000 in Q1; $110,000 cash-on-hand
Susan Bitter Smith: Raised $64,000 in Q1; $56,000 cash-on-hand
Current Rating: Lean DEM
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment