Arizona Republican Party

The widely-circulated memo put out by Rep. Tom Davis (R-Va.) addressing the Republican Party's weaknesses this election cycle has stirred controversy and speculation. It also has a direct bearing on the congressional races in Arizona that may prove to be some of the most closely-watched in the nation.

Whatever Davis's missive says about the turmoil within the National Republican Congressional Committee - and the possibility that he is angling to lead it - it has also yielded two radically different interpretations from both of Arizona's parties. It remains in the hands of the voters to determine which view will prove correct.

The Arizona Republican Party is fuming over what it sees as Governor Janet Napolitano's latest blow to anti-illegal immigration efforts.

In an executive order signed Monday, Napolitano redirected over $1 million slated to go to Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio's office for immigration enforcement. The funds will be used instead for a task force she's appointed to serve tens of thousands of outstanding warrants statewide.

Coupled with her veto of a bill that would have enabled county and municipal law enforcement agencies to have greater cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the Arizona Republican Party is making its displeasure known, and accusing the governor of refusing to enforce laws and obstructing Sheriff Arpaio's efforts.

The question, though, is how far are frustrated Republicans willing to go to stop Gov. Napolitano?    

On Saturday, the Arizona Republican Party held their convention and determined who would be representing the state at the National Republican Convention in Minneapolis/St. Paul this September. Although Ron Paul supporters made a push to deprive Sen. John McCain of the down-the-line support his home state's party demanded, it failed in its objective. The delegates have all pledged to deliver a McCain vote during the nominating process.

Anyone expecting a repeat of Nevada's Republican Party Convention today was sorely mistaken. Despite an effort to secure the election of supporters of Rep. Ron Paul as delegates to the Republican National Convention in September, the "Unity Slate," crafted by the party to ensure that only delegates who fully support the state's favorite son would be represent Arizona in Minneapolis this September, was elected with almost no changes.

Arizona Republican Party Chairman Randy PullenToday in a hit on Democratic presidential contender Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.), Arizona Republican Party Chairman Randy Pullen used the recent endorsement of 1972 Democratic presidential nominee George McGovern to decry Obama's anti-Iraq War stance. In the piece, Pullen claimed that Americans desire a "victorious and responsible end to the conflict in Iraq," painting Obama as "out of touch" and "irresponsible" for wanting to withdraw combat forces.

Yet numerous polls indicate that Obama's view is very much in line with the majority of Americans.

This has been the week of the GOP going after Democrats over rising fuel costs, trying to marry that party to consumer woes. The Democrats have responded, but now Emily Bittner, spokeswoman for the Arizona Democratic Party, is lending her voice.

Republicans claim the Democratic leadership in Congress is failing to lead on this issue, and furthermore advocating a stance that will lead to higher gas prices. Democrats countered today with a list of specific legislation that they say works to achieve the object - with a note from Bittner saying Republicans care more about Big Oil than the middle class. 

It is the latest issue to serve as a battleground for the parties in this extraordinarily consequential election year.

As gasoline prices creep indefatigably toward the $4.00/gal. threshold, Republicans are making a concerted effort to shift public consternation over pain at the pump onto Democratic lawmakers and presidential candidates, including Reps. Gabrielle Giffords and Harry Mitchell, and Sen. Barack Obama.

This week signaled the beginning of an offensive, from Capitol Hill to the Copper Dome, in which Republicans in D.C. and Arizona - and everywhere else in between - will try to make the issue of rising fuel costs a loser for Democrats.

Arizona Republican Party Chairman Randy Pullen is optimistic about the chances of Republicans to regain lost ground against Democrats in the Arizona congressional delegation, he said today on Grover Norquist's radio show. However, he said that key to recapturing CD5 will be a Republican primary that keeps the fighting above the belt.

Tony Reinhard, the spokesman for the Arizona Republican Party, usually lets party boss Randy Pullen do the attacking. Today, though, Reinhard is hitting hard at Emily Bittner, his Democratic counterpart. Bittner is roundly regarded as a pit bull in the best sense by Democrats and Republicans alike, and now Reinhard is trying to show that his office can give as good as it gets.