Laura Knaperek

DENVER -- U.S. Rep. Harry Mitchell (D-Tempe) is not worried about the outcome of the Republican primary in the 5th Congressional District, which will lead to the selection of his  opponent in the general election.

"It makes no difference," said Mitchell, when asked if he had a preferred candidate to face after the Sept. 2 primary. "We've always run tough races. This is my 17th election. We always run against Republicans in Republican districts. This is no different, we're ready for any of them."

Arizona’s 5th congressional district Republican primary was supposed to be one of the most exciting races we have seen in a long time. To date, it has been very quiet in actuality. Things seem to be picking up though as the primary date is quickly approaching. Here are some updates we have received.

SCOTTSDALE -- Jim Ogsbury knows how to walk neighborhoods. He doesn’t mess with marker caps anymore – “I got sick of fumbling with them,” he explains – now he’s got a retractable one to mark off houses on his walk sheet. He also uses it to knock on doors, joking he “must have permanent tissue damage in my knuckles” from all the doors he’s knocked. By his count, that’s now about 16,000.

Today he is taking his quest for the Republican nomination in the 5th Congressional District to a quiet Scottsdale street, rich in what Ogsbury terms “loyal Republican voters.” He plans to spend the afternoon, from 1:30 until dark, introducing himself to residents of house after house, chatting with the voters inside and putting campaign literature into their hands personally.

Seth Scott, campaign manager for the re-election campaign of U.S. Rep. Harry Mitchell (D-Tempe), is responding to charges of inaction by Mitchell on the issue of the nation's energy crisis, which have been a main topic of attacks issued against the freshman Democrat.

"Harry has been talking about energy for two years now," Scott told PolitickerAZ.com. "To say that his position isn't clear indicates some people haven't been paying attention."

Mitchell has come under fire from his prospective opponents, who are engaged in a six-way Republican primary to face him on the general election ballot, as well as the National Republican Congressional Committee for what they characterize as the failures of the Democratic-controlled U.S. House, and Mitchell in specific, to take action on high gas prices.

The re-election campaign of U.S. Rep. Harry Mitchell says they've had trackers at their offices and at events, both in 2006 and this year. Seth Scott, Mitchell's campaign manager, additionally said the campaign's sentiments regarding tracking in the 5th Congressional District race have been mischaracterized, and that they are simply used to tracking, not practicioners of it.

"Congressman Mitchell has been followed around and videotaped by the other party for two years — whether in Washington or home in Arizona," Scott told PolitickerAZ.com via email. "In fact, just last week, we had someone at our office opening videotaping our supporters, our staff and the Congressman."

Up until a week ago, the 5th Congressional District primary has been most notable for the amazingly quiet contest the Republicans have been running.  But over the last week the theme seems to have shifted to whacky publicity stunts.

First we had Susan Bitter Smith accusing Harry Mitchell of push-polling against her. 

Laura Knaperek, candidate in the 5th Congressional District Republican primary, has asked Arizona Democratic Party Chairman Don Bivens to facilitate a series of debates between her and U.S. Rep. Harry Mitchell (D-Tempe) - a proposal that will not likely be seized upon by Democrats.

"Since Congressman Mitchell’s staff keeps him sequestered," read the letter, "I am hoping that in your capacity as state Democratic Party chair that you would encourage Congressman Mitchell to actually talk with the voters about the issues they care about.

I propose that over the next 90 days Rep. Mitchell and I conduct no fewer than five debates, co-hosted by my campaign and the Arizona Democratic Party to share with the voters where we stand on the issues.

It is my sincere hope that Rep. Mitchell will be receptive to your overtures and that we can agree on the terms of the debates and engage our fellow Americans."

The Arizona Democratic Party admits it sent an employee to track attendees of a private fundraiser for 5th Congressional District Republican candidate Laura Knaperek, after the incident was exposed on the J.D. Hayworth Show.

Lauren Barnett, Knaperek's campaign manager, decried the incident Wednesday on the KFYI program of former congressman J.D. Hayworth, who was defeated as an incumbent by Harry Mitchell. According to Barnett, guests at a Knaperek fundraising event noticed a man taking pictures of people coming and going and the license plates of vehicles parked outside. The Knaperek campaign asked him who he was, and he told them his name was David Judd, and he worked for the Arizona Democratic Party.

"This is undemocratic, this is reprehensible. What ever happened to freedom of association?" asked Barnett on Hayworth's show.

Emily DeRose, spokeswoman for the Arizona Democratic Party, said she doesn't see anything undemocratic or reprehensible about the Democrats keeping tabs on their opponents. 

"Of course we keep track of what Rep. Mitchell's opponents are saying and doing," said DeRose. "It's part of our due diligence as they run for office."

Last week, PolitickerAZ.com sent out a questionaire asking the Republican candidates in the 5th Congressional District about their takes on some key questions currently facing Congress and the nation.

The first installment ran on Friday, where the candidates expressed their views on how the Iraq War should be handled.

Read Part 1.

In the second installment, the candidates discuss the question of Iran, and how they favor expanding educational benefits for veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Again it must be noted that former Maricopa County Treasurer David Schweikert chose not to participate in this questionnaire. 

Last week, PolitickerAZ.com sent out a questionaire asking the Republican candidates in the 5th Congressional District about their takes on some key questions currently facing Congress and the nation. Now, the results are in.

With the exception of recently-identified Lee Adam Gentry, whose very existence was the source of speculation until today, and David Schweikert, who has chosen not to participate, all Republicans running to face Rep. Harry Mitchell in November responded, and gave their views on issues ranging from a national gay marriage amendment to the Iraq War to global climate change.

Here, then, is the first installment of On the Issues: CD5 Republicans.