AZ-1

Democrat Ann Kirkpatrick and Republican Sydney Hay are both taking their appeals directly to the people of the 1st Congressional District - perhaps the only way to reach voters in a sparsely populated district the size of Illinois.

As the election approaches, Kirkpatrick and Hay are touring the district, meeting face-to-face with their prospective constituents and trying to hit as many towns as possible.

Kikpatrick brought her "tour" to Clifton, Morenci and Safford on Wednesday for a series of meet-and-greets with voters and local dignitaries. Her campaign said she "will be visiting seven different communities in Gila, Greenlee and Graham Counties on this leg of the tour."

Hay has also been busy hitting town halls district-wide. Tuesday night, Hay addressed an audience at Central Arizona College in Signal Peak, after doing a similar event in Show Low. Her campaign said it had invited Kirkpatrick to participate in the town halls, but that after some discussion they'd rejected the idea.

Stuart Rothenberg has updated his Rotherberg Report and half of Arizona's Congressional races are on the list.

AZ-1
Democratic candidate Ann Kirkpatrick has been upgraded from a Tilt-Democratic to a Lean-Democratic over Sydney Hay.

AZ-3
John Shadegg is now listed as a Republican Favored, but for the first time appears on the list. Shadegg is facing Democrat Bob Lord.

AZ-5
Harry Mitchell has been upgraded from a Lean-Democratic to a Democratic Favored over David Schweikert.

AZ-8
Gabrielle Giffords has also been upgraded from a Lean-Democratic to a Democratic Favored over Tim Bee.

The campaign of 1st Congressional District Democratic candidate Ann Kirkpatrick announced she has gained the endorsements of Navajo Nation President Joe Shirley, San Carlos Apache Chairman Wendsler Nosie, and White Mountain Apache Chairman Ronnie Lupe.

"As President of the Navajo Nation, I am very proud to endorse our former representative in the state legislature, Ann Kirkpatrick, for Congress," said Shirley in a statement released by the campaign. "Ann has always remained committed to the issues important to native communities and will be a strong voice for change in Washington. I look forward to working closely with her in Congress to bring back the resources to address our critical health, education, and infrastructure needs."

For those who didn't attend the debate among the four candidates running for the 1st Congressional District open seat, Preston Korn has provided an audio recording of the proceedings.

Korn, who was a candidate in the 1st district Republican primary before backing out to support the failed bid of Sandra Livingstone for the nomination, recorded the Oct. 1 debate and has released it as an MP3 to his supporters. Korn wrote that he did so because "many of you won't get a chance to see or hear these candidates before the election."

The recording can be heard here.

KNAU, the radio station of Northern Arizona University, which hosted the event, also has a version available on its website in three parts.

Gov. Janet Napolitano is continuing her push for Democratic candidates statewide, with a swing through Casa Grande Wednesday to campaign for 1st Congressional District candidate Ann Kirkpatrick, as well as candidates for state House and Senate seats.

Kirkpatrick, who faces Republican Sydney Hay for the open 1st district seat, will join Napolitano as well as Pinal County School Superintendent Orlenda Roberts, Florence Mayor Vicki Kilvinger, and Kearny Mayor Deborah Sommers at the Casa Grande Historical Society at 3:30 p.m.

From there the governor and Kirkpatrick head to BeDillon's restaurant, also in Casa Grande, for an event with state Rep. Barbara McGuire, state Sen. Rebecca Rios and state House candidate Ernie Bustamante. 

Congressional candidate Sydney Hay: Campaign PhotoSydney Hay, Republican candidate for the 1st Congressional District seat, is attacking Democratic opponent Ann Kirkpatrick for what she characterizes as ducking out on a forum in Show Low on Monday.

“I want all of the voters in the district to have the opportunity to know where both my opponent and I stand on the issues," said Hay. “I hope Ann will reconsider our invitation to come to Show Low and join me in this town hall meeting.”

The Hay campaign said it invited Kirkpatrick to the forum, yet Zac Petkanas, communications director for the Kirkpatrick campaign, said he'd seen no such invite.

"The first time I've heard anything about this is from you," Petkanas told PolitickerAZ.com. He said Kirkpatrick and Hay have already appeared at four forums together, including one in Show Low on Sept. 26.

The Arizona Democratic Party has launched a new website attacking 1st Congressional District Republican candidate Sydney Hay, the party announced Friday.

WrongWayHay.com, the new site features an interactive "wrong way map," laid out like a twisting highway, where scrolling over a "wrong way" sign brings up charges against Hay, mostly associated with her positions on Social Security, taxes and her lobbying activities as president of the Arizona Mining Association.

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee released a new ad Wednesday against 1st Congressional District Republican candidate Sydney Hay, blasting her for being a "corporate lobbyist in the pocket of big business" and for wanting to "privatize Social Security."

This is the second ad from the DCCC that makes an issue of Hay's lobbying activities. Hay is president of the Arizona Mining Association, which represents mining companies to the state and federal government.

Ann Kirkpatrick, the Democratic candidate in the 1st Congressional District race, is opening a Flagstaff campaign office Sat., Sept. 27, her campaign announced Wednesday.

The Flagstaff office is Kirkpatrick's third, having already established two others in Casa Grande and Prescott. According to the campaign, the Flagstaff office will coordinate Kirkpatrick's efforts in Coconino County. 

Many of the congressional campaigns have set up their own youtube channels so you can view their commercials and other videos. Below is a list of all the Arizona candidates I could find.

Ann Kirkpatrick (AZ-1)
Sydney Hay (AZ-1)
Bob Lord (AZ-3)
John Shadegg (AZ-3)
Ed Pastor (AZ-4)
Gabrielle Giffords (AZ-8)
Tim Bee (AZ-8)