While Jeff Flake fights a primary battle again Wil Cardon, Richard Carmona has been sitting unopposed, waiting. The battle is to replace Jon Kyl, who is retiring. The latest Public Policy Polling poll from the end of July shows that the battle between Flake and Cardon has really tightened the race... between Flake and Carmona.
If the candidates for Senate were Democrat
Richard Carmona and Republican Jeff Flake,
who would you vote for?
Richard Carmona 38%
Jeff Flake 38%
Undecided 25%
The two are tied, with a quarter of the electorate undecided. Last month, Flake led Carmona 43-41, with only 16% undecided. Showing that the highly negative campaign between Cardon and Flake has caused significant damage to Flake.
(More after the squiggle)
The polling gets really interesting when we look at favorability. Jeff Flake is not well liked.
Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Jeff Flake?
Favorable 30%
Unfavorable 37%
Not sure 33%
The polling also shows that the majority of the electorate doesn't know Carmona, at all.
Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Richard Carmona?
Favorable 16%
Unfavorable 20%
Not sure 64%
So, despite not having much of an opinion of Carmona at all, 38% said they would vote for him, which shows just how much they dislike Flake.
I believe once voters get to know Carmona they will want to vote for him. For more information on him, please read my diary from a couple of months ago.
This race isn't getting a lot of attention nationally, or within the dKos community. I hope that changes, soon. There is a good chance, with more support, that AZ could send a Democratic senator to Washington to replace Jon Kyl. That could mean a significant shift in the balance of power.
To find out more about Richard Carmona or to get involved with the campaign, go here.