National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) Communications Director Brian Walsh issued the following statement in response to reports that national Democrats have shoved aside former State Party Chair Don Bivens in favor of their anointed candidate Richard Carmona:
“After President Obama personally recruited Richard Carmona to run for the Senate, it should surprise no one that the liberal Washington establishment would eventually clear the field for their anointed candidate and loyal ally.
“Today’s news only serves as a reminder to Arizonans that a vote for Carmona this November is a vote for President Obama’s liberal, big government agenda of higher taxes, reckless Washington spending and job-killing healthcare takeovers.
“We look forward to hearing when President Obama and Richard Carmona will be campaigning side-by-side in Arizona in the days ahead.”
BACKGROUND …
- “On September 23, President Obama called Richard Carmona to encourage him to run,” said one Democratic strategist. (Alexander Burns, Obama courts Ariz. Senate candidate, may contest state ‘heavily’, Politico, 10/06/11)
- Carmona is one of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee’s favorite candidates and was personally courted by President Obama and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid to get into the race. (David Catanese, Bivens clears the way for Carmona, Politico, 3/27/2012)
- Obama personally called Carmona and asked him to run, and Carmona told The Hill in February that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee Chairwoman Patty Murray (Wash.) were also among those who reached out to court him. (Josh Lederman, Democrat Bivens drops out of Arizona Senate primary, clearing way for Carmona, The Hill, 3/27/2010)
Current Obama Job Approval In Arizona: 41% approve, 51% disapprove (TPM PollTracker, 3/27/2012)
