President

Sen. John McCain's involvement in a land deal between the federal government and a company whose principals have helped raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for him is the subject of a USA Today report out this morning. Yet McCain wasn't the only Arizona politician who supported the deal, according to a McCain spokesman, nor was he the only one who received financial backing from the company in question.

According to the story, McCain was instrumental in securing the acquisition of several hundred acres surrounding Luke Air Force Base from SunCor in 2003. SunCor's parent company, Pinnacle West, and its executives are major contributors to McCain, and the story indicates that McCain relaxed his "no pork" stance by appropriating the funds for the land purchase.

What the USA Today article failed to mention, according to a McCain spokesman, is that the deal was supported by the entirety of Arizona's congressional delegation - many of whom also count Pinnacle West and its officers among their top contributors.

Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean came to Phoenix Tuesday to strategize with Democratic volunteers, bolster the belief that Sen. John McCain is beatable in Arizona and discuss downticket races.

Now the Arizona Democratic Party has released the podcast of Dean's talk with the party's new media communications manager, Jeff Goodman. In it, Dean discusses McCain's weaknesses, touts Democratic congressional candidates and finally reveals which candidate he DNC chair supports... on American Idol.

Congratulations to Tedski at Rum, Romanisn and Rebellion for being named the official Arizona blogger for the Democratic National Convention.

Don't expect Sen. Jon Kyl to be a presidential runningmate. In a survey of the U.S. Senate's membership not already running for president on whether they'd consider accept an offer to be vice president, The Hill newspaper found a variety of responses to the veepstakes question. Some were accompanied by laughs, others took the question seriously.

With his colleague John McCain presumptively the Republican nominee, how did Republican Jon Kyl respond?

When Howard Dean says "50 state strategy," he means it.

The Chairman of the Democratic National Committee was in Phoenix today, home turf of the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, to assert that, even in Sen. John McCain's front yard, the Democrats will come to play.

Dean addressed a group of Democratic volunteers who will be organizing on behalf of the party's eventual presidential nominee, who will most likely be Barack Obama. All indications are that, despite obvious disadvantages, the Democratic Party is not excusing itself from a fight in Arizona.

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.

According to a blog report today in the LA Times, Ron Paul’s supporters are looking to make a statement and to embarrass John McCain in Minnesota.  The report says Paul’s forces have been organizing across the country to stage an embarrassing public revolt against McCain. According to the latest numbers, Ron Paul has roughly 19 delegates to Minn.  If a tree falls in the woods and no one is there to see it, does it make noise?

57 states down, only one to go. Obviously he is tired and needs a vacation, but it is entertaining.

Today U.S. Rep. Harry Mitchell (D-5) became Sen. Barack Obama's 275th superdelegate, according to the Obama campaign. Mitchell had, like fellow freshman Democrat Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, refrained from backing either Obama or Sen. Hillary Clinton, but today came down in favor of the Illinois senator, who is looking increasingly likely to win the Democratic nomination for president.