As we last reported, recent polling of the Republican primary in this district shows immigration hardliner Randy Graf with a substantial lead over Steve Huffman, in part because of old rivalries between Huffman and the other "moderate" candidates, especially former state party chairman Mike Hellon. Huffman has the endorsements of outgoing Rep. Jim Kolbe and the US Chamber of Commerce, and now, apparently, the NRCC as well. The Wall Street Journal's Washington Wire reports:
The House Republican leadership's election arm, in an unusual move, is throwing its support to Arizona congressional candidate Steve Huffman -- before the Sept. 12 party primary.
The National Republican Congressional Committee spent $122,292 on an issue ad backing Huffman, according to papers filed with the Federal Election Commission. The ad is set to air this week. Ordinarily, the NRCC wouldn't wade into a race this early, but a crowded Republican field was posing a problem for Huffman, a moderate who in a recent poll was behind conservative and immigration hardliner Randy Graf among Republican voters.
Read the full post at link above.
Party leaders fear Graf is perceived as too extreme to be elected in the Tuscon-area district. I can't remember when the NRCC has jumped into a primary for an open seat, though.
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Arizona, Congressional Races, Primaries, Republican
