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GOP candidates confident in District 8 race
Thelma Grimes/San Pedro Valley News-Sun
Republican candidates seeking victory in the Aug. 24 primary election for Congressional District 8, now represented by Gabrielle Giffords, are confident in their prospects.
Going into the final month of campaigning, Jesse Kelly, Brian Miller and Jonathan Paton said they believe they are well positioned to win.
All three have a military background, conservative values and the goal of defeating Democrat Giffords.
The main difference among Paton, Kelly and Miller is political experience.
Miller and Kelly said this is their first venture into the political arena, noting that the election of President Barack Obama forced them to take action.
"I have an extensive resume," said Miller. "I believe in conservatism and am loyal to the Constitution. My opponents, Kelly and Paton, bicker back and forth but don't really disagree on anything. They both want more troops on the border, and a wall. A sound bite does not do justice to what is needed."
Kelly said the bottom line is President Obama and his liberal followers are tearing this country apart.
Kelly said he feels victory in the primary is now certain after opponent Andy Goss dropped out. Goss, who will still be on the ballot, but quit the race, endorsed Kelly.
"I'm a true conservative. It's the only way to go," Kelly said. "Paton is a big spending Republican. He is a career politician."
Paton said his political experience is what separates him from his opponents. Paton served in the Arizona Legislature as a District 30 senator before resigning to run for congress.
Paton said he also has numbers to prove he can beat Giffords in the general election.
A poll conducted by the Tarrance Group and paid for by the Paton campaign, gave Paton a 45 percent approval rating, while Giffords had 44 percent.
"We are looking at the numbers, and we are ahead," Paton said. "We are a point ahead of Giffords in the polls, and I think we are confident in a victory in August. The difference between me and my opponents, is that on every major issue, I can actually show voters I have accomplished something."
The poll, with a 5.8 percent margin of error, surveyed 300 "likely" voters.
Money may also be a concern for all three Republican candidates, since Giffords reported another $600,000 in revenues for the second quarter, leaving her $2.2 million total.
Paton, who has raised the most among the Republican candidates, raised $167,000, and Kelly raised $122,000. Paton currently has $286,000 cash on hand, after spending a reported $284,000 in the second quarter.
While the three candidates continue to campaign, none of them has immediate plans for a debate or meeting in Benson.
Miller and Paton came to Benson last month as part of an event hosted by the Benson Tea Party.
Republican candidates seeking victory in the Aug. 24 primary election for Congressional District 8, now represented by Gabrielle Giffords, are confident in their prospects.
Going into the final month of campaigning, Jesse Kelly, Brian Miller and Jonathan Paton said they believe they are well positioned to win.
All three have a military background, conservative values and the goal of defeating Democrat Giffords.
The main difference among Paton, Kelly and Miller is political experience.
Miller and Kelly said this is their first venture into the political arena, noting that the election of President Barack Obama forced them to take action.
"I have an extensive resume," said Miller. "I believe in conservatism and am loyal to the Constitution. My opponents, Kelly and Paton, bicker back and forth but don't really disagree on anything. They both want more troops on the border, and a wall. A sound bite does not do justice to what is needed."
Kelly said the bottom line is President Obama and his liberal followers are tearing this country apart.
Kelly said he feels victory in the primary is now certain after opponent Andy Goss dropped out. Goss, who will still be on the ballot, but quit the race, endorsed Kelly.
"I'm a true conservative. It's the only way to go," Kelly said. "Paton is a big spending Republican. He is a career politician."
Paton said his political experience is what separates him from his opponents. Paton served in the Arizona Legislature as a District 30 senator before resigning to run for congress.
Paton said he also has numbers to prove he can beat Giffords in the general election.
A poll conducted by the Tarrance Group and paid for by the Paton campaign, gave Paton a 45 percent approval rating, while Giffords had 44 percent.
"We are looking at the numbers, and we are ahead," Paton said. "We are a point ahead of Giffords in the polls, and I think we are confident in a victory in August. The difference between me and my opponents, is that on every major issue, I can actually show voters I have accomplished something."
The poll, with a 5.8 percent margin of error, surveyed 300 "likely" voters.
Money may also be a concern for all three Republican candidates, since Giffords reported another $600,000 in revenues for the second quarter, leaving her $2.2 million total.
Paton, who has raised the most among the Republican candidates, raised $167,000, and Kelly raised $122,000. Paton currently has $286,000 cash on hand, after spending a reported $284,000 in the second quarter.
While the three candidates continue to campaign, none of them has immediate plans for a debate or meeting in Benson.
Miller and Paton came to Benson last month as part of an event hosted by the Benson Tea Party.
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AzBoy wrote on Jul 21, 2010 6:40 PM: