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Bee to challenge Giffords

The Arizona Daily Sun

Tucson Region Bee gets busy with possible Congress run GOP state Senate chief seeks donors for 'exploratory' challenge to Giffords By Daniel Scarpinato arizona daily star Tucson, Arizona | Published: 08.22.2007

State Senate President Tim Bee took his latest step toward a possible run for Congress on Tuesday by soliciting cash donations and support for a potential race against Rep. Gabrielle Giffords.
At the top of Bee's do-to list: Amass enough money to compete with the $1 million already in Giffords' campaign war chest. In order to do that, Bee will file papers establishing an exploratory committee shortly.
But in the process, Bee is remaining tight-lipped about his political positions, speaking only in generalities about partisanship in Washington and criticizing Giffords as being out of touch with Southern Arizona.
Bee, a Tucson Republican, has been flirting with a potential run for some time in District 8 against childhood schoolmate Giffords, a Democrat elected in 2006 in the swing district.
An official announcement of the exploratory phase is planned for next month, but in the meantime, Bee is soliciting donations and support from movers and shakers in the political community.
The first wave of paperwork forming his committee will be filed with the Federal Election Commission in two weeks — the required time after a candidate begins asking for donations.
"I've had people in my district and throughout Southern Arizona talking to me about the potential of doing this ever since the last election," Bee said. "I think it's time to look at it seriously and see if we have the support in the district and the financial support we need."
There is little distinction between an official campaign committee and Bee's exploratory committee. He still can raise money within the federal limits — and spend it. He also can run television ads and send out mailers if he chooses.
Previously, Bee was "testing the waters," a category that allows candidates to raise some money but restricts spending.
But in order to remain in the state Senate, which Bee intends to do, he can't announce his candidacy, or he would violate Arizona's resign-to-run law.
"There's no question it will be challenging, but absolutely it can be done," he said.
Included in those challenges is the fact that Bee can't officially announce that he's running for Congress until January.
Given that, Bee was cautious about commenting on why he might be interesting in running. But he did criticize Giffords and Congress as a whole, saying both are overly partisan.
"One of the things we've seen about the United States Congress is that they're at an all-time low in public respect, and both the Republicans and the Democrats have engaged in serious partisan bickering," he said. "I think they would do well to change their tone."
Bee said Giffords, whom he's known since kindergarten, has voted too liberally to suit residents of District 8.
"There are concerns about whether she's gone back to make the changes she said she would and whether she's in touch with the district," he said.
Bee, a conservative known for his even temper, pointed to Giffords' recent vote against expanding a Bush administration program allowing the government to eavesdrop on suspected foreign terrorists without court-approved warrants.
"I think she's on the wrong side of that issue," he said.
But as he has done in the past, Bee resisted answering questions about his political positions.
After initially sidestepping a question about the Iraq war, Bee said, "I believe that this war has been poorly executed, and there have been many mistakes made along the way, but at the same time, it's going to be extremely important that we have a successful outcome."
Before he could respond to follow-up questions, though, Garrick Taylor, a Republican consultant, interjected that Bee would "save the discussion of the issues for whether the senator decides he wants to be a candidate."
Asked how he planned to drum up support without clear positions, Bee said, "I don't think there's any question we'll be able to engage with people in the district to find out how they feel about things and what their issues are, and certainly I'll be able to take that input."
Contacted for comment, Michael McNulty, spokesman for Giffords' re-election campaign, said that "it's just too damn early to start a sniping with the obvious candidate," but called on Bee to talk specifically about issues if he intends to criticize Giffords.
However, Pete Zimmerman, a local Democratic consultant, said Bee is doing the right thing.
"If I was advising a candidate, I'd say they need to conduct sufficient research in the district first," he said. "People can take an educated guess of where you stand."
Rolling out a campaign in steps is "primarily for the media coverage," Zimmerman said. "It gives you a series of announcements to make."
As required by law, Bee will be sending a letter to the Federal Election Commission in 14 days to establish a committee. An official form will be filed 10 days later.

Posted by Editor at August 23, 2007 10:24 AM

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