National Republican, Democratic groups targeting three Arizona Congressional districts

August 30, 2012

The national groups working to elect both Democrats and Republicans to Congress are targeting the same three Arizona districts this fall. From Phoenix, KJZZ’s Mark Brodie reports.

MARK BRODIE: Both the National Republican Congressional Committee and Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee consider districts one, two and nine winnable in November. The first district pits Ann Kirkpatrick against Jonathan Paton. In the second, Ron Barber will face Martha McSally, and in the ninth district, Kyrsten Sinema is running against Vernon Parker.  DCCC Communications Director Jesse Ferguson says the first and ninth districts are in the group’s ‘Red to Blue’ program, but isn’t sure how involved it’ll be.

JESSE FERGUSON: Our expectations are that we will be there in these races if we’re needed, but the strength of our candidates here puts us in the position where they’re poised to win without needing our help.

BRODIE: On the Republican side, the NRCC also expects to win in those three districts. Executive Director Guy Harrison said Wednesday the group has several factors that play into whether or not a contest gets national resources.

GUY HARRISON: Polling, fundraising, their campaign plans. We have a ‘Young Guns’ process here at the NRCC, in which they give us full campaign plans and show us a path to victory.

BRODIE: Political analysts expect Arizona voters, especially those in the Valley, to be seeing and hearing plenty about both party’s candidates leading up to November - with many of the bills being paid by outside groups.