Arizona Readies for Primary Vote on March 22nd

By: Lorin McLain

Arizona voters get a turn to voice their choice for their preferred presidential candidate on March 22nd. Five candidates now say they’re taking the fight all the way to the conventions, despite steep odds for a nomination. A few have been making rounds in the Grand Canyon State right before it holds its vote, in hopes to rally last-minute support.

Hillary Clinton looks to repeat her success in 2008, when the U.S. Senator beat her Democratic rival and future President Barack Obama in 13 of 15 counties. Her husband, Bill Clinton, became the only Democrat to carry traditional red-state Arizona since 1948 when he ran 12 years earlier. Bernie Sanders is hoping to change this. Sanders has recruited many Latino elected officials to help in his Arizona campaign. So far, he’s won the endorsement of Living United for Change in Arizona, a group aimed at organizing the state’s lower-income and minority families in the interest of “social and economic justice.” He’s also accepted the endorsement of U.S. Representative Raul Grijalva, a Tucson Democrat.

A poll taken by a Phoenix-based consultant at the end of February showed Clinton dominating Sanders among Democratic primary voters 56.2 percent to 21.5 percent. However, her campaign is not taking this favorability for granted. Two week’s before Arizona’s election, Clinton held a conference call with local black leaders and held a rally at the state capitol organized by the group Arizona Women for Hillary. The campaign brought Olympic medalist Michelle Kwan to Phoenix to launch “Arizona Asian American and Pacific Islanders for Hillary.” Sanders hit the Valley again on Super Tuesday to hold a Super Tuesday “Future to Believe in” rally at the Phoenix Convention Center.

Republican front-runner Donald Trump has been to the Valley twice to rally supporters, and is expected to hold another rally on Saturday before Arizona’s Monday election. He’s won endorsement from Sheriff Joe Arpaio and state treasurer, Jeff Dewitt, who’s appeared frequently on CNN to speak in support of the billionaire candidate. Governor Doug Ducey has not endorsed a candidate, but says he’ll support whichever candidate wins the GOP nomination.

Arizona’s presidential preference election is open only to people who are registered with either the Democratic, Republican, or Green parties. Trump currently leads the GOP delegate count with 673, followed by Ted Cruz with 411, and John Kasich with 143 for the 1,237 needed to be nominated. Clinton leads Sanders with 1,139 to 851 of 2,383 needed. The Republicans have 58 delegates at stake in Arizona, and the Democrats 85. Utah and Idaho are also holding their caucuses on March 22nd.