Andrew Eldredge-Martin

PHOENIX -- Issues affecting veterans and soldiers were front-and-center in the race for the 3rd Congressional District seat Wednesday, as challenger Bob Lord attacked the record of U.S. Rep. John Shadegg (R-Phoenix) and the incumbent shot right back, questioning the truth and taste of Lord's first television commercial.

At a downtown Phoenix American Legion hall, three area veterans spoke to press on Shadegg's behalf, hailing his record on veterans affairs and decrying the Lord campaign's televison ad on the issue.

"We're here today because we're outraged that someone would... claim [Shadegg] has betrayed the troops," said Lt. Col. Lorenzo Valenzuela (ret.), who commanded an Army Corps of Engineers company in Iraq. "Personally I can't think of anything more offensive than that." He said referring to Shadegg as a "betrayer" was "preposterous" and "outrageous.

U.S. Rep. John Shadegg (R-Phoenix)U.S. Rep. John Shadegg (R-Phoenix) is hittng back hard against 3rd Congressional District opponent Bob Lord, calling a campaign commerical released by Lord last week full of "intentionally false claims."

"His ad is deceit, plain and simple," wrote Shadegg in an email to supporters. "It's false and he knows it. He can't win on the truth so he's running on distortions and half-truths."

In the ad, the announcer says, "Why would John Shadegg vote himself nine pay raises but oppose health care and bonuses for troops in Iraq and Afghanistan? Maybe because Shadegg admits, Washington changed him," The assertion is taken from what Shadegg told KTVK in March. In that interview, Shadegg stated that congressional Republicans had "failed" to live up to campaign promises, saying, "Instead of changing Washington, Washington changed us."

Calling it a "cheap-shot ad," Shadegg fired back, saying he wasn't referring to himself when he said that.

"Washington, regrettably, has changed too many of my colleagues,"wrote Shadegg, "but it hasn't changed me and it never will. Mr. Lord and his paid leftist political consultants know I never said 'Washington changed me.'"

The Arizona Republican Party has filed a complaint with the Federal Elections Commission against 3rd Congressional District Democratic candidate Bob Lord, who is challenging U.S. Rep. John Shadegg (R-Phoenix) for his seat.

"Lord, a Democrat, filed a campaign finance report showing a number of contributions made on the last day of the reporting period," read the release announcing the complaint. "But an online news site, Politickeraz.com, reported that Lord's campaign manager also expected to report additional contributions that had not yet been received by the campaign."

The Republican attack is based on remarks Andrew Eldgredge-Martin, Lord's campaign manager, made to PolitickerAZ.com on July 3, that the campaign was still counting contributions sent on or before June 30, the last day of the second quarter.

Congressional candidate Bob Lord: Campaign photoThe Bob Lord campaign will report that it raised more money in the 2nd quarter than in any previous quarter, according to Lord campaign manager Andrew Eldredge-Martin.

"We're really pleased with how the quarter went, and especially pleased that we now have over 3,000 individual contributors," Eldredge-Martin told PolitickerAZ.com. "It's our best quarter ever."

However, he said the campaign was still receiving contributions sent before the June 30 deadline, and therefore they aren't able to release a total yet.

Bob Lord, who is fighting Rep. John Shadegg (R-3) to become the first Democratic representative in the history of Arizona's Third Congressional District, opened up his home today - or more specifically, his roof - to show off something often discussed by Democratic politicians but rarely seen. Bob Lord is the proud owner of a solar array, 30 panels strong, and touts it as an example of where energy in Arizona is headed.

Will Bob Lord reach his fundraising goal? If not, it won't be for lack of trying.

Quarterly fundraising filings are coming up, and Bob Lord is looking to keep his campaign's finances looking strong.

With the first quarter coming to a close, John Shadegg’s political office is focused on raising money.

Chief-of-Staff Sean Noble says is the re-election campaign trying to “replenish the funds” after the slow-down in fundraising after Shadegg’s initial announcement that he was retiring last month.

“We want to be back up and maintain a cash balance,” Noble said.  read more »

Republican Congressman John Shadegg today called for an immediate moratorium on earmarks.  read more »