CD8 - Giffords vs. Graf

The Tucson Citizen gives a glimpse on the real choice voters will have between the two candidates in Arizona Congressional District 8. This will not be an election where the lines are blurred between party identification. The decision will be clear.

WHERE THEY STAND ON THE ISSUES

IMMIGRATION

Giffords: Opposes amnesty. Naturalization for illegal migrants should include paying fines and taxes and learning English.

Graf: No government benefits for illegal migrants. Migrants should return home and apply for temporary visas or be deported.

THE WAR IN IRAQ

Giffords' goals: Bringing U.S. troops home by 2007 and ensuring Iraqi government is able to to secure the country.

Graf: Opposes "artificial" timetables for withdrawal of U.S. troops.

HEALTH CARE

Giffords: Seeks health insurance for all. Wants to let people over 50 buy into Medicare and mall-business owners buy into AHCCCS.

Graf: Supports health saving accounts and shrinking of medical bureaucracy to cut costs and empower doctors and patients.

A full listing of Gabrielle Giffords' (D) stances on the issues can be found here, while Randy Graf's (R/Minuteman) is here.

Make no mistake about it, immigration reform is going to be the signature issue in this race. While Gabrielle Giffords will be able to offer voters responsible leadership on a number of issues such as health care reform, beefing up educational support systems, and a strong commitment to environmental protections; Randy "Minuteman for Congress" Graf is finally going to get his chance to hold the GOP megaphone and show southern Arizona the extremism they've endorsed by giving him their primary nod.

This campaign is going to obliterate the Republicans' ability to show unity in a district that, according to the 2000 U.S. Census, is diverse in gender and economic status:

General Characteristics - show more >>	Number	Percent	U.S.
Total population	641,329
Male	314,184	49.0	49.1%
Female	327,145	51.0	50.9%
Median age (years)	39.1	(X)	35.3
Under 5 years	38,017	5.9	6.8%
18 years and over	494,546	77.1	74.3%
65 years and over	107,640	16.8	12.4%
One race	622,133	97.0	97.6%
White	536,600	83.7	75.1%
Black or African American	20,109	3.1	12.3%
American Indian and Alaska Native	6,728	1.0	0.9%
Asian	13,595	2.1	3.6%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander	945	0.1	0.1%
Some other race	44,156	6.9	5.5%
Two or more races	19,196	3.0	2.4%
Hispanic or Latino (of any race)	116,808	18.2	12.5%

Economic Characteristics - show more >>	Number	Percent	U.S.
In labor force (population 16 years and over)	307,255	60.0	63.9%
Mean travel time to work in minutes (workers 16 years and over)	23.5	(X)	25.5
Median household income in 1999 (dollars)	40,656	(X)	41,994
Median family income in 1999 (dollars)	49,568	(X)	50,046
Per capita income in 1999 (dollars)	22,614	(X)	21,587
Families below poverty level	12,543	7.3	9.2%
Individuals below poverty level	65,475	10.5	12.4%

I think Gabrielle Giffords has a great shot at winning this open seat, she has been endorsed by numerous people from all ideological stripes and can communicate clearly to articulate her points. It will be interesting to see what Congressman Raul Grijalva's involvement will be through November (he endorsed Gabby previously).

Grijalva's CD7 and this open seat of CD8 are the two border districts in the state; and with a Minuteman officially in the running for the general election against Giffords, it's going to get muy interesante en Baja Arizona.

Crossposted at Migra Matters