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Another provacative article from 1992:

Goldwater jolts GOP, backs Democrat Wead dealt blow by his hero, who favors rival English

By Steve Yozwiak The Arizona Republic Oct. 30, 1992 12:00:00 Republican Barry Goldwater, Arizona's Mr. Conservative, shook up eastern Arizona's new 6th Congressional District on Thursday by endorsing Democrat Karan English. It was a blow to Republican Doug Wead, who has touted himself as a ''Barry Goldwater Republican.'' The former senator is referred to as a national hero in a campaign video Wead has sent to nearly 30,000 households in the sprawling new district.

But it was English's 22-year residency in Arizona, compared with a two-year tenure for Wead, that tipped the scales for Goldwater.

''Doug Wead does not know or understand Arizona, and his record in Washington, D.C., is not the best,'' Goldwater said of Wead, President Bush's former liaison to conservative and religious groups, and a former minister.

''If I lived in the 6th District, I would vote for Karan English. Karan has lived in the state long enough to know its problems,'' Goldwater said in a prepared statement released by English.

The endorsement was confirmed through his secretary.

''With her extensive Arizona background, she is well qualified to represent the 6th District,'' Goldwater said.

The district runs from Casa Grande through the east Valley to Flagstaff and east to the New Mexico line.

Ironically, it is Goldwater whom Wead has conjured up whenever his residency and commitment to Arizona is questioned. Wead has said repeatedly that it was Goldwater's presidential candidacy that encouraged him to visit Arizona in 1964.

At one point in Wead's video, he refers to Goldwater as a teen-age idol for whom he gladly suffered ridicule:

''I'll never forget in 1962, in speech class, our teacher assigned us to nominate someone for president. So I nominated Goldwater, and everybody laughed. The teacher laughed. But I've lived to see the principles of Barry Goldwater vindicated all over the world.''

A photo of Goldwater at the 1964 Republican National Convention, which nominated him for president, hangs in Wead's office, according to the video.

On Thursday afternoon, Wead spokesman John Gibson issued a statement discounting Goldwater's endorsement of English, saying it was related to Goldwater's support of abortion rights for women. Goldwater has appeared in commercials opposing Proposition 110, which would ban most abortions in Arizona.

That logic doesn't follow in the 1st Congressional District. The incumbent, GOP Rep. Jay Rhodes, opposes abortion even in cases of rape or incest, while Democrat Sam Coppersmith favors abortion rights.

In that campaign, Goldwater has done commercials for Rhodes, saying, ''The one thing America doesn't need is another Democrat in Congress.''

Wead was not available for comment Thursday, said Wead consultant Sidney Hoff. The candidate, who has outspent English 2-1, is expected to launch a TV ad blitz this weekend.

But his aide Gibson said Arizona's GOP congressional delegates and other key Republicans continue to back Wead.

''Though we are disappointed in the crossing of party lines by Barry, we are strong in the knowledge that the Republican delegation serving Arizona in Washington remains steadfast in their support of Doug,'' Gibson said.

Rhodes issued a statement reiterating his endorsement. It included statements of support for Wead on behalf of GOP Gov. Fife Symington and Sen. John McCain.

Rhodes spokesman Gregg Houtz said Goldwater supports Rhodes because Coppersmith ''is more liberal than -- what's her name? -- Karan English.''

Coppersmith attributed Goldwater's support of his opponent to Goldwater's friendship with Rhodes' father, former U.S. Rep. John Rhodes.

State Republican Party Chairman Jerry Davis issued a statement discounting Goldwater's endorsement.

''It is unfortunate that the campaign will be distorted by irrelevancies in its final days,'' he said. ''The voters should be able to evaluate the stand of the candidates on the issues, and there are radical differences between conservative Republican Mr. Wead and liberal Democrat Ms. English and her supporters.''

But, English, a state senator and former chairwoman of the Coconino County Board of Supervisors, said she was ''thrilled'' to have Goldwater's endorsement.

''Barry's endorsement shows just how much Doug Wead doesn't know about Arizona,'' she said.

''He has alienated people. He has abused Barry Goldwater's good name.

''It doesn't do much good to be a Barry Goldwater conservative when Barry Goldwater doesn't even support him.''