Jason Rose

The Tim Nelson campaign Wednesday called for an investigation into the $105,000 donation from an unidentified group called SCA to the Arizona Republican Party, which state Democrats allege went to finance anti-Nelson advertising and violated several campaign finance laws.

Thomas's campaign shot back immediately, suggesting Nelson was "irresponsible" and bringing up its own allegations of impropriety.

"The voters of Arizona deserve to know who is trying to influence the political process,” Nelson said in a statement from the campaign. “For unidentified donors to spend more than $100,000 anonymously is a violation of the public’s right to a clean and fair election."

Nelson's campaign said it wanted an investigation of the "apparent efforts to illegally finance a sleazy and factually inaccurate television ad attacking him."

The campaigns of Democrat Tim Nelson and Republican Andrew Thomas, who are battling over the Maricopa County attorney position Thomas currently holds, continue to refute assertions the campaigns have made against each other.

The general election campaign, only a week old, has gotten hot quickly. Tuesday, Thomas admonished Nelson for taking campaign contributions from defense attorneys, calling it "obscene." That prompted a quick response from the Democratic challenger. Thomas claimed no other candidate for prosecutor in U.S. history has taken as much from defense attorneys as Nelson.

"Thomas is wrong that there has never been a prosecutor's race in the country where defense attorneys have this amount of money.  I just worked on a State's Attorney race where defense attorneys gave many times that amount," said Joshua Kilroy, Nelson campaign manager, of a race he ran in Chicago last year.

Thomas's campaign hurled its own retort. Kilroy had told PolitickerAZ.com that the Thomas campaign's inclusion of former Arizona Superior Court judge among the list of defense lawyers they cited was "ludicrous."

"Campbell currently works at the law firm of Osborn Maledon along with Nelson," wrote P.R. pro Jason Rose for the Thomas campaign. "On Campbell's own bio page there - focusing on areas of practice - 'Criminal Defense' is listed." Rose called for an apology from Nelson, saying, "his comments now look a little goofy." 

Calling Bob Lord "well-funded, serious opposition" to Rep. John Shadegg (R-3), Sens. John McCain and John Kyl will host a fundraiser on Shadegg's behalf at the home of attorney Jordan Rose and husband, Rose & Allyn Public Relations partner Jason Rose on Saturday afternoon.

"For most of his career Congressman Shadegg has not had well-funded, serious opposition," reads the invitation. "This year is very different."