Above: Mr. Graf (AP)
Posted on 09/18/2006 11:41:48 PM PDT by Spiff
(Tucson, AZ) Randy Graf, the Republican nominee to replace retiring US Congressman Jim Kolbe, was pleased to announce that the national Republican Party and its leaders have come together to support his campaign. After winning the Republican Primary for the Eighth Congressional District of Arizona on September 12, 2006, Randy flew out to Washington, D.C. the following day to meet with national party leaders who have pledged their support and promised to help Randy’s campaign collect the needed resources in order to win the general election on November 7, 2006.
Among those who Randy met with and who promised help were Republican Party leaders in the US House of Representatives and Ken Mehlman, Chairman of the Republican National Committee. House leaders who pledged their support in meetings with Randy Graf include Speaker of the House J. Dennis Hastert of Illinois, Majority Whip Roy Blunt of Missouri, Chief Deputy Majority Whip Eric Cantor of Virginia, Deputy Majority Whip Tom Feeney of Florida, Republican Study Committee Chairman Mike Pence of Indiana, and NRCC Chairman Thomas M. Reynolds of New York. Each of these national party and Congressional leaders offered their support and many gave financial contributions to the Randy Graf for Congress campaign. Along with the support of national Republican leaders, Randy has received the support and endorsements of Senator Jon Kyl, and Congressmen Jeff Flake, Trent Franks, J.D. Hayworth, Rick Renzi, and John Shadegg of Arizona.
Randy Graf is excited for the opportunity to join these fine Americans in serving in the U.S. House of Representatives and is planning on fighting hard to ensure victory in November. Randy acknowledges that this will be a tough election but is confident that he has the message that will resonate with voters in order to win in November. Randy Graf stated that: “If we continue to focus on the issues that helped us win the Primary, we will be able to relate to the voters and their stances on the most important issues for the district. These issues include controlling government spending, lowering taxes on families, winning the War against Terrorists, and securing our borders against terrorists, criminals, and illegal aliens. Once we relate to the voters on these important issues, we will win in November.” There should be no question in the minds of voters that when it comes to stopping illegal immigration, Randy is the only choice. Randy’s strong showing in the Republican primary along with the built-in 20,000 vote registration advantage for Republicans in the District are two reasons Randy believes he is already well on the right track to win in November.
Graf has also stated that he is confident that he will be able to raise the necessary $1 million plus between now and November 7 in order to carry his message to the voters and win the General Election.
A marginal district?
Kolbe is sour grapes and with the RNC and a number of GOP officeholders helping him, including Speaker Hastert and Senator Jon Kyl, I see Graf winning and I sure hope he does.
In AZ-8, Bush 2000 won it by 2%, and Bush 2004 won it by 6% (with the uptick due to a very fine showing by Bush among Hispanics in Arizona). The Bush 2000 showing was behind the registration figures, where the GOP has a 6% lead, with 20% of the electorate independent. In my judgment, AZ-8 is one of the three most likely CD's in the nation that the GOP holds now, that they will not hold in 2007. But of course, I could be wrong.
Like I said, don't do the Democrats' job for them.
Missed the quote. Looked again and saw it.
Let the reader decide. It is all there in black and white. There is no point in us further arguing about it. Have a nice day.
OK.
Interesting. I still think he'll win and win decisively over the democrat, but as you said "we shall see."
"While Republicans are making a show of uniting behind Graf, there's a lot of pessimism."
"....but she's(Giffords) also seen as reasonable by moderate republicans and the business community."
What does the teaching of creationism have to do with a congressional race, anyway?
This is a school board issue, and a state school superintendent issue.
"I am not a cultural conservative."
When you say that, what do you mean? Abortion? Gay marriage? Do you support both? Or is there something else?
So if you lived in the district, could Ms. Giffords count of your vote?
Ugh. When a pro-amnesty RINO wins the primary, we're told we have to support him by RINOs so that the GOP can stay in the majority. But never the other way around. I doubt the moderate republicans will vote for self-described "progessive" in the general anyway. They don't worry me. But I can see the business community supporting a guest worker supporting person like Giffords. Why, oh why does president Bush have an immigration plan that becomes more likely to pass with more democrats in congress? Why is he being praised by Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter? Why does he think rewarding illegals can be defended?
I don't live in the district. If I did, I would monitor the candidates, and make a decision in due course. I don't know anything about Giffords, except that she supports the McCain Bush immigration proposal, which I oppose, and that she is quite attractive. If she mouths Dem BS that annoys me, and Graf avoids annoying me, that might push me into the Graf column.
Heheh...
The Torie Test: "Don't annoy me!"
;-)
I really did not want to answer the question, frankly, but for me, transparency is job one, so after some thought, I did. Answer fair questions, and answer them honestly, is my MO, at least that is my goal. Folks do have a right to know what a poster who appears as frequently as I do on this forum, are all about, and I try to tell them, even when it is unpopular around here. They have a right to filter what I say, knowing what I believe, and don't believe. Such is life.
Hey, I get along with you just fine.
An honest liberal, as rare a creature as that might be, is far better than any psuedo-conservative.
Simply treating people with respect and decency goes a long way to bridge even the biggest human divides. You've managed to do that pretty darned well, notwithstanding a few very old tiffs you and I might have had. ;-)
And -- you're gonna hate this -- I think you get more conservative all the time!
I know that opinion might pain you, but that's how I see it. :-)
Later...
So, do you consider yourself a moderate or a conservative? Are you a Republican?
That's not Graf. It's Andre Agassi.
Look at the source from the pic you posted.
http://www.celebopedia.com/andre-agassi/images/andre-agassi.jpg
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.