District 18 Senate Blogger Roundtable - Part 3

With so much happening in the heated District 18 Senate Race, I thought it would be good to put together a round table discussion about the race and get some people who cover Mesa’s opinion on the issues. East Valley Immigration, Adams and Jefferson, Thoughts on Mesa, and the Sonoran Alliancce have agreed to participate. So, here is the third installment of the District 18 Roundtable Discussion.

3. How do you think the influx of independent expenditures from different groups are going to effect the race?

Mesa Issues: Well, as it already has, it’s going to draw a lot of attention to the race. However, in the end, I wonder if it’s not too little too late. If they really wanted to take out Pearce, it’s going to take a long time to create doubt within his faithful.

East Valley Immigration: I think it's going to get a lot more negative and you'll see more lies and half truths. I think people will be annoyed at the constant barrage of the same literature. It's funny, they aren't supposed to work together but by looking at it, you can't tell which are Gibbons and which are the independents. I must have gotten 5 or 6 just this last weekend!

Thoughts on Mesa: We are seeing that now with the negative mailers that are being mailed out. I.E.s will probably change the mind of a very few people. I think however they will have the opposite desire and turn people off. People don't like negative campaigning, political junkies love it but the public doesn't.

Sonoran Alliance: An influx of independent expenditures will only work against the group funding the IE's. We believe that the Sproul/Mesa Deserves Better attack pieces will backfire. Any outside groups advocating for or against will only work against the goal of the IE. West Mesa voters do not like being told how to vote by outsiders.

Adams and Jefferson: They will further polarize the district. Since the expenditures are mostly directed against Rep. Pearce - he is going to take a fairly nasty public beating.