I thought I'd take a break from talking about polls and issues and campaigning, and try and convey in pictures some of what I feel the Ellen Simon-Rick Renzi race is about.
I won't start a fight over who has the most beautiful Congressional district in the nation, but I'm sure the vast and varied country of the AZ-01 is on anyone's top ten. I've gotten to see a lot of it during this campaign, and while I can't say I love the frequent four-hour drives, I'm constantly amazed by my surroundings.
Big image warning: about 6 MB of photos after the break.
The gigantic district 1, where our images come from, in a delicate shade of purple.
Weather moving in over the Painted Desert.
A train passing through Flagstaff, a few dozen feet from my office. (Yes, it's loud.)
Wilson Mountain, in the red rock country of Sedona where Ellen lives.
The San Francisco Peaks in early winter.
Meteor Crater, the best-preserved impact crater on Earth. It's over half a mile across. (I was an astronomer before I took this gig.)
The Petrified Forest.
Window Rock, site of the Navajo Nation capitol.
Oak Creek, in Sedona, in autumn.
The Grand Canyon.
An aged saguaro.
This incredible district is represented by a Congressman who is not only a down-the-line Bush supporter, not only one of the most corrupt members of Congress, but also among the very worst members on the environment, with a 0% rating from the League of Conservation Voters for 2005.
Cheney does a fundraiser for Renzi.
Renzi and Bush, sharing a moment.
Renzi getting excited at the anti-choice 'March for Life'.
Renzi and Katherine Harris in the background, from the famous 'Canoodle' video. If you've never seen it, you should.
Renzi with Hastert, happily taking a check from Tom Phillips of the National Conservative Campaign Fund.M
Renzi stumping for Supreme Court Justice-to-be Samuel Alito.
Renzi at the signing of a bill to prevent lawsuits against gun dealers, with Bush, Frist, Hatch, Santorum, and Blunt.
Bush and Renzi at a recent fundraiser in Scottsdale.
We have the chance to replace him with a woman who's been endorsed by the Sierra Club and has spent her life fighting for the little guy and winning.
Ellen.
Ellen meeting voters on the campaign trail. Which is sometimes an actual trail.
Ellen speaking at a town hall.
Working hard.
Ellen with Governor Janet Napolitano and some guy.
And my volunteers find a good omen:
Read.
Volunteer.
Donate.