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" and success as a fundraiser. However, it went on to say:

"But there are warning signs in Kolbe's withdrawal. The CD is certainly not as socially conservative as many other CDs in AZ. Some speculate Kolbe, who is openly gay, abandoned Bee because of Bee's tiebreaking vote in support of adding a "marriage amendment" (defining marriage between a man and a woman) to the fall ballot. In the CD, a similar amendment failed in '06 by a 55-45% margin.

"Bee was the best candidate GOPers could've landed in this CD. But despite his bipartisan accolades, his stands on social issues may help Giffords label him as out-of-step."

The RealClearPolitics article mentioned the fundraising trip Bush is paying to Tucson on July 18, saying, "Bee can use the money and the press it will generate after losing a campaign co-chairman next week." It went on to explain the rumors surrounding Kolbe's departure from the campaign.