With the PolitickerAZ.com Wake-Up Call e-mailed to your inbox, phone, Blackberry or PDA first thing in the morning, you can get a rundown of Arizona's top political headlines. Sign up to get the Wake-Up Call delivered every morning.

With the PolitickerAZ.com Wake-Up Call e-mailed to your inbox, phone, Blackberry or PDA first thing in the morning, you can get a rundown of Arizona's top political headlines. Sign up to get the Wake-Up Call delivered every morning.

Napolitano teams up with Salazar to tout Dems' chances

DENVER -- Gov. Janet Napolitano joined Colorado Sen. Ken Salazar to express their belief that the west is turning increasingly "blue." (PolitickerAZ.com, Evan Brown)

Link: http://www.politickeraz.com/evanbrown/1980/napolitano-teams-salazar-tout...

Health board candidate challenges foes

A candidate for the governing board of Maricopa Integrated Health System, which runs the county hospital, is trying to get her opponents disqualified from the November ballot, although it is unclear if she can legally hold the position herself. (Arizona Republic, Yvonne Wingett)

Link: http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2008/08/26/20080826mihssigs0826.h...

State Dem leaders: Clinton supporters a challenge for Obama

As Gov. Janet Napolitano prepared to deliver her speech at the Democratic National Convention in Denver tonight, two of Arizona's top Democratic leaders said Monday that uniting supporters of Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton will present a real challenge this week — although not an impossible one. (Daily Star, Daniel Scarpinato)

Link: http://www.azstarnet.com/sn/politics/254522.php

During the political conventions

Keep your fingers crossed for no more transmisson difficulties and look for commentaries from the Democratic National Convention by Gov. Janet Napolitano, state Attorney General Terry Goddard, Pima County Recorder F. Ann Rodriguez, Tucson Councilwoman Regina Romero and national columnists throughout the week on Op-Ed. (Daily Star, Staff)

Link: http://www.azstarnet.com/sn/politics/254442.php

Supervisor primary foes trade salvos on tax burden

Pima County supervisor candidate Joe Higgins says county government is bloated and taxpayers here pay too much. To make his case, he points to other counties he says are comparable in size where taxpayers pay much less. (Daily Star, Erica Meltzer)

Link: http://www.azstarnet.com/sn/politics/254540.php

Candidate's removal ends TUSD board race

The race for three seats on the Tucson Unified School District Governing Board is effectively over.

A Superior Court judge on Monday removed board hopeful Michael Hicks from the ballot, leaving three candidates in the race for three seats. (Daily Star, Staff)

Link: http://www.azstarnet.com/sn/metro/254538.php

Democratic convention speech adds to Napolitano's standing

In 2000, then-Arizona Attorney General Janet Napolitano made arguably her first splash on the national political stage with an address to the Democratic National Convention in Los Angeles.

She was given three minutes on stage. (Tucscon Citizen, Matthew Benson)

Link: http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/ss/arizona/94831.php

Ariz. delegates show support for Obama in Denver

Arizona delegates to the Democratic National Convention are eager to throw their support behind Sen. Barack Obama and dispel the myth of a divided party.

Those who supported Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton want to give her the courtesy of a first-round vote, but are expected to be free to cast their second ballots for Obama during Wednesday's roll-call vote. (East Valley Tribune, Paul Giblin)

Link: http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/story/124044

Judge to rule on dispute over Prop. 200 summary

A judge said Monday he will decide today whether voters need to be told up front how much payday lenders could legally charge if Proposition 200 is approved. (East Valley Tribune, Howard Fischer)

Link: http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/story/124039

Proposition 105 to appear on November ballot

Arizonans will get a chance to decide whether they want to make it harder for voters to enact tax hikes or anything that will force residents to spend more money.

Secretary of State Jan Brewer said Monday that a random check of signatures on petitions for Proposition 105 show that it will have about 226,500 valid names. That is shy of the 230,047 normally needed to propose constitutional amendments. (East Valley Tribune, Howard Fischer)

Link: http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/story/124037

Reggaeton star Daddy Yankee endorses McCain

PHOENIX — Reggaeton artist Daddy Yankee endorsed Republican presidential hopeful John McCain on Monday, citing the senator’s support of Hispanics and his immigration efforts. (Daily Star, AP)

Link: http://www.azstarnet.com/sn/politics/254392.php

Arizona Democrats stargazing in Denver

Phoenix residents and Democratic National Convention delegates Howard and Lisa Bell have spotted a number of political VIPs while in Denver. The most surprising, though, came during a bus ride earlier today. (East Valley Tribune, Paul Giblin)

Link: http://checkingin.freedomblogging.com/2008/08/25/pull-over-to-the-neares...

McCain notes 'very honorable opponent'

PHOENIX - Republican presidential candidate John McCain on Monday called rival Barack Obama his "very honorable opponent" as he began a busy week of low-key events while Democrats prepared to nominate Obama. (Tucson Citizen, AP)

Link: http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/ss/arizona/94772.php

Anti-Pearce campaign raises $32,000 from 4

The campaign working to defeat Russell Pearce in his bid for a state Senate seat has raised $32,000, with the money coming from four families.

In contrast, a committee formed to denounce the anti-Pearce tactics has raised $1,000 from a sole donor, committee Chairman Stan Barnes. (Tucson Citizen, Mary Jo Pitzl)

Link: http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/ss/arizona/94779.php

Bitter Smith, Schweikert heat up Fifth District Republican primary

The Republican primary race in the Fifth Congressional District just went into overdrive with a handgun taking a prominent role. (East Valley Tribune, Le Templar)

Link: http://whatiknow.freedomblogging.com/2008/08/25/bitter-smith-schweikert-...

Democrats step up to challenge Jeff Flake

Democratic congressional candidate Rebecca Schneider said she isn’t overly concerned by Republican incumbent Jeff Flake’s showings in his 2006 and 2004 re-elections.

In 2006, Flake got 75 percent of the vote in Arizona’s 6th Congressional District. In 2004, he got 79 percent. (East Valley Tribune, Rebecca Schneider)

Link: http://checkingin.freedomblogging.com/2008/08/25/democrats-step-up-to-ch...

Az delegates talk about team-building

Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard's home life reflects what he calls the central challenge of the Democratic National Convention as it opened Monday in Denver.

Wife Monica is a dyed-in-the-cashmere Hillary Clinton supporter, who is just starting to warm up to Barack Obama's presidential bid. (Tucson Citizen, Blake Morlock)

Link: http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/ss/arizona/94764.php

With the PolitickerAZ.com Wake-Up Call e-mailed to your inbox, phone, Blackberry or PDA first thing in the morning, you can get a rundown of Arizona's top political headlines. Sign up to get the Wake-Up Call delivered every morning.