Posted on 09/22/2006 12:07:50 PM PDT by VU4G10
National Republicans are pulling advertising in Arizona for 8th District GOP nominee Randy Graf, who last week won his partys primary but is trailing by nineteen points in a general election poll released Tuesday by his Democratic challenger.
A spokesman for the Tucson ABC affiliate, where ads were reserved, confirmed that the party committee was pulling them.
The Arizona Democratic Party on Wednesday accused Graf of "associating himself" with former Ku Klux Klan leader David Duke, citing a posting on Dukes website but offering no evidence of an actual relationship.
On Thursday, Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) Chairman Rahm Emanuel (D-Ill.) sent a letter to the media addressed to National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) Chairman Tom Reynolds (R-N.Y). In it, he cited Grafs "ties" to Duke and called on the NRCC to stop supporting Graf.
An NRCC spokesman said it has paid for ads on behalf of Graf that are scheduled to run through Oct. 3, but declined to say what it would do beyond that date, citing a policy against discussing campaign strategy. The spokesman reiterated the NRCCs full support for Graf.
Reynolds responded to Emanuel in a letter arguing that Dukes posting didnt amount to an endorsement and detailing several Democratic donors and candidates with criminal pasts or "radical views."
The posting on Dukes website is titled "Minutemans Tough Border Stance Wins Primary!" and links to a U.S. News & World Report article, as well as Grafs campaign website.
Arizona Democratic Party spokesman Peter Jackson said the posting was on a publicly available site and that the party assumed Grafs campaign had seen it as well. He said by not asking Duke to remove the posting, Graf is showing he has no problem with Duke promoting his candidacy.
Graf campaign spokesman R.T. Gregg denounced Duke and his views but said the campaign wouldnt let Democrats dictate its actions. He also said the Graf campaign cant be responsible for policing the Internet.
Graf won a five-way primary even though the NRCC had supported his GOP opponent Steve Huffman and retiring Rep. Jim Kolbe (R-Ariz.) had criticized him for being too extreme for the district.
Graf and the other three candidates publicly denounced the NRCC one week before the primary for reneging on its promise to abstain getting involved in the primary. But after winning his partys nomination Sept. 12, Graf flew to Washington, D.C., to meet with national party leaders and proclaimed their "wide support."
The race has long been projected as one of the most competitive in the country.
A spokesman for the Tucson FOX and UPN affiliates said early Thursday evening that the NRCCs ad purchase was still on the books as running through the general election. The NBC affiliate declined to relay advertising information over the phone, and the CBS affiliate didnt return calls by press time.
Grafs campaign said the NRCC hadnt notified them of any ads being removed.
"The NRCC does what the NRCC does, and quite honestly, in this campaign, it doesnt make an awful lot of rhyme or reason and hasnt from the very beginning," Graf spokesman R.T. Gregg said.
Democratic nominee Gabrielle Giffordss poll showed her leading 54-35, with 5 percent voting for independent candidates and 6 percent undecided.
"The Republicans have recognized that Gabrielle Giffords has broad bipartisan support across southern Arizona," Giffords spokesman Jonathan Neal said.
Really? Even though graf didn't condemn the $175,000 in DNC help to defeat huffman.
Like I said it is the democrats who are smiling about graf's win, it was money well invested for them.
BUMP --- that is my original point: David Duke needs to stay the hell out of politics.
Now back to my other concern: David Duke knows he's radio active, so why does he publicly and vociferously and monetarily back some candidates? I question his motives seriously.
I am just as concerned about the RNC backing Kolbe's guy as I am about the democrats lending support to Graf.
It was an OPRN seat and should have been left to the individuals to raise their own campaign funds. (In a perfect world).
Voters decided. I hope Graf wins.
You raise an interesting point. There's gotta be an underlying reason why he's meddling in Arizona.
The DNC was for graf in the GOP priumary, the RNC against him.
That should tell you something, even though you wish not to admit it.
Better kooks and reprobates than RNC bootlickers
That may be part of the reason they backed Graf. Graf presents an easy target for them to destroy later.
Michael Weiner is that you? Shouldn't you be doing a radio show about now?
What am I trying not to admit?
That the DNC deemed Kolbe's guy more of a threat so they backed Graf?
That's a DUH, Dane, but it doesn't lessen my concern.
And who's fault is that. I would say graf's, especially with david duke gravitating towards him.
1 - Unless Graf asked for or thanked Duke for his 'support', that should be a non-issue. I dare say Duke has 'endorsed' Republicans far more often than he has Democrats - does that make republicans racists?
If Duke wanted Graf elected, he would have kept his unwelcome mouth shut.
2 - Dems prefered to run against Graf because Graf is more conservative. The question is, Is Graf too conservative for a republican majority district?
That is something for the voters to decide, preferably based on issues rather than smears. Unfortunately, the dems don't even need to smear Graf - his fellow republicans (like yourself) are doing it for them.
Do you enjoy doing the work of Howard Dean, Dane?
I live in this district, Dane. It ain't Rhode Island, or Maine, or California. I understand when they elect RINO's, since dems outnumber them and even the republicans are mostly RINOs, themselves. But the republicans here aren't libs, or even moderates. And immigration is an issue where many dems agree with us on - so why not TRY?
But it hurts when supposed allies stab us in the back.
Dems don't need to destroy Graf. There are plenty of Republicans here on FR that are willing to do it for them!
david duke is a meglomaniac, he thinks his word is divine. He ain't going to shut up.
That duke wished to cozy up to graf speaks volumes about graf.
Graf destroyed graf, especially with his rhetoric that would make david duke want to cozy up to him.
FGS --- not one poster on the whole of FR will have any influence on the outcome of this race.
Have a look at the state flags. Few posters reside in AZ let alone in his district.
Y'all can see to his election. I wish him and y'all the best of luck. He can certainly win and I think he will.
It's Graf's fault he hasn't denounced Duke and told Duke where he can take his endorsement.
Can you quote that rhetoric? I haven't heard it.
Has Graf talked about white supremacy, or suggested blacks and latinos are sub-human?
Has he said something like, "Kick the spics outta here?"
Just what rhetoric are you talking about? My filipina wife voted for Graf - is she a David Duke supporter?
The fact that duke supports graf, and graf's belated condemnation speaks volumes.
Dane is the biggest hypocrite on the planet. He constantly attacked Tancredo for burning bridges with other Republicans, then demands Graf burn bridges with other Republicans who supported him in the primary. He accuses the DNC of being for Graf and the RNC being against Graf, then a week after he "endorses" the GOP nominee, he starts using DNC talking points against him and opposes the RNC position on immigration. I bet Dane's little buddy, the now banned BayouRINO, is probably writing a big fat check to DemocRAT nominee Giffords as we speak.
I knew Dane's "endorsement" of Graf and pledge to back the choice of Republican Party voters wouldn't last more than a few days. The Danes and BayouRINOs of FR accuse others of undermining the GOP in order to justify their open borders position, but it is them who openly assist Dems if they don't get their way in the primary.
You don't see me giving aid and comfort to Bill Nelson because my candidate didn't win the primary.
Dane is a pitiful sore loser consumed with hated of Graf and anyone else who follows the GOP's 180 year old tradition on limited, legal immigration.
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