Saturday, November 12, 2005
it's official
Jeff Latas has officially declared his candidacy to unseat 11-term incumbent Jim Kolbe...and apparently there will be a contested Democratic primary in AZ08. Francine Shacter, a retiree, declared her candidacy on Monday.
At this point, my money's still on Latas. Shacter's website doesn't say much, but she does certainly speak to the old-school social and economic justice radical in me. And she gets bonus points for using "the tyrrany of the majority," a concept that dates back to pre-Revolutionary War days.
That said, Latas has the credibility, biography and flat-out fight to win. Also, Shacter's campaign address is for Princeton, NJ. She obviously needs to get a campaign headquarters in district to even have a shot at the nomination.
I want Latas to be the raging progressive I think he is, but I understand as a pragmatist that the words I want to hear would alienate enough of the voters in AZ08 to lose this race.
One comment on Latas' announcement post on DailyKos (linked above) noted that Kolbe's sexual orientation actually works to his advantage in this district. I believe this will be especially true this election cycle with the very draconian anti-marriage amendment sharing the ballot.
Latas should come out early against the amendment to blunt any real or perceived advantage Kolbe might receive.
Kolbe likely wouldn't be very loud about his opposition so as not to alienate his base. But Kolbe also always benefits from moderate voters who see his sexuality as a likewise moderating influence on him.
Latas being vocal in his (presumed) opposition to the so-called "Protect Marriage Arizona" amendment (which actually hurts marriage and doesn't help it) would force Kolbe into a no-win situation. If Kolbe also expresses his opposition, he has to run right on other issues to scrounge together enough moderate-right votes to overcome Latas' advantage from his military service. If Kolbe stays silent while his opponent is a better advocate for Kolbe's rights than Kolbe is, it exposes the incumbent as someone ashamed of who he is and unwilling to stand up for himself.
And that, ladies and gentlemen, is the kind of "leadership" we've come to know and loathe in AZ08.
At this point, my money's still on Latas. Shacter's website doesn't say much, but she does certainly speak to the old-school social and economic justice radical in me. And she gets bonus points for using "the tyrrany of the majority," a concept that dates back to pre-Revolutionary War days.
That said, Latas has the credibility, biography and flat-out fight to win. Also, Shacter's campaign address is for Princeton, NJ. She obviously needs to get a campaign headquarters in district to even have a shot at the nomination.
I want Latas to be the raging progressive I think he is, but I understand as a pragmatist that the words I want to hear would alienate enough of the voters in AZ08 to lose this race.
One comment on Latas' announcement post on DailyKos (linked above) noted that Kolbe's sexual orientation actually works to his advantage in this district. I believe this will be especially true this election cycle with the very draconian anti-marriage amendment sharing the ballot.
Latas should come out early against the amendment to blunt any real or perceived advantage Kolbe might receive.
Kolbe likely wouldn't be very loud about his opposition so as not to alienate his base. But Kolbe also always benefits from moderate voters who see his sexuality as a likewise moderating influence on him.
Latas being vocal in his (presumed) opposition to the so-called "Protect Marriage Arizona" amendment (which actually hurts marriage and doesn't help it) would force Kolbe into a no-win situation. If Kolbe also expresses his opposition, he has to run right on other issues to scrounge together enough moderate-right votes to overcome Latas' advantage from his military service. If Kolbe stays silent while his opponent is a better advocate for Kolbe's rights than Kolbe is, it exposes the incumbent as someone ashamed of who he is and unwilling to stand up for himself.
And that, ladies and gentlemen, is the kind of "leadership" we've come to know and loathe in AZ08.
