Wednesday, October 4th, 2006...12:45 am
It’s All a Brilliant Strategy, I’m Sure
The Arizona Republic had their editorial board meeting today where they were to interview the CD 8 candidates. Gabrielle Giffords, Jay Quick and Dave Nolan all arrived on time. An hour passed, no show from Randy Graf. The candidates that actually showed up had other places to go, so the interview was started without Graf.
Apparently, Graf never called in either.
Well, CD 8 is probably the district in the state where the Republic has its lowest circulation. However, it seems silly for the nominee of a major party to blow off the state’s largest newspaper, even if he doesn’t think he can get their endorsement. It is petty and amateurish, actually.
NB - Remember when the Graf supporters made fun of Steve Huffman for ducking appearances durring the primary? Remember how they said that it was because he didn’t want to have to answer uncomfortable questions? Not that long ago, really.
3 Comments
October 4th, 2006 at 7:27 am
There is a HUGE difference between not showing up for events where actual PEOPLE are going to be able to see and talk to you and not showing up to talk to the Star editorial board.
Graf could have spent an hour in front of Roses and More with a sandwich board sign asking random people to vote for him and it would have been a far more effective use of his time than meeting with any of the local newspaper editorial boards.
The Star editorial board certainly does not have a history of dealing fairly with him. They did print the “fact check” story against the Huffman ad, but that was only necessary because of their half-hearted effort to fact check Huffman’s first ad, which Steve actually quoted as proof that his accusations were true.
Not really a questionable decision of Randy’s part as the glowing Giffords endorsement was probably written weeks ago.
October 4th, 2006 at 7:38 am
It wasn’t the Star, it was the Republic. Given the Star’s lack of endorsements during the primary, I don’t imagine they will be endorsing in the general election.
October 4th, 2006 at 8:12 am
The Republic? That is a paper published in Phoenix. CD 8 is a Southern Arizona seat.
Based on some of the results in the primary no surprise he didn’t waste his time. Endorsements by newspapers are not worth didly. Not only does the Republic not have that much circulation in CD 8 but voters would have to read it that day. I know a lot of people who subscribe to the Star and often don’t read it for days at a time. Of the few people in CD 8 who subscribe and the fewer people who actually read it how many would even be swayed by what a Phoenix paper had to say about a Southern Arizona race?
What about the NW Tucson candidate forum on August 18th? Almost 30% of CD 8 voters live in LD 26. One would think a candidate would show up to meet voters in person and speak live on stage. The event was well attended. For Gabby it did not matter, in the primary. For Huffman it was a big mistake.