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Republicans vie for Gabrielle Giffords seat in Arizona special election - live Republicans vie for Gabrielle Giffords seat in Arizona special election - live
(40 minutes later)
12.15pm: Matt Lewis of the Daily Caller says Jeb Bush's remarks yesterday about the GOP's immigration problem and Hispanic voters had the ring of truth:
Not all of Bush's advice has made as much sense. But on this, he is right. We should stress the fact that welcoming immigrants is consistent with our values. America isn't about building walls, but tearing them down. The fact that others want to come here is something Americans should note with pride.
In many ways — such as religiosity, work ethic, industriousness, and the centrality of the family unit — Hispanics should be a natural Republican constituency. The fact that they're clearly not speaks to why Bush is right about changing the tone.
12 noon: While all eyes are on Arizona and the special election taking place there today, let's not forget the other races taking place around the nation.
The congressional primary season is in full bloom today in Maine, Nevada, North Dakota, South Carolina and Virginia, while Arkansas is holding run-off elections.
In Maine's biggest primary, six Republicans and four Democrats are running for nominations for the US Senate seat held by the retiring GOP moderate Olympia Snowe. But the winning candidates from both party will be up against Angus King, a popular independent candidate who was Maine's governor from 1995 to 2003.
11.28am: Mitt Romney popped up on Fox & Friends for a holds-barred discussion and was given the opportunity to explain his own gaffe-tastic statement from last week – "[Obama] says we need more firemen, more policemen, more teachers. Did he not get the message in Wisconsin?" – which he promptly got tangled up in:
Well, that's a very strange accusation. Of course teachers and fireman and policemen are hired at the local level and also by states. The federal government doesn't pay for teachers, firefighters or policemen. So obviously that is completely absurd, but [Obama]'s got a new idea though and that is to have another stimulus and to have the federal government to try and bail out cities and states. It didn't work the first time. It certainly wouldn't work the second time.
Is it really so strange? Paul Krugman thinks not.
11am: Here's the Guardian's artisanal, hand-curated Top 50 Twitter accounts to follow for the 2012 US election campaign:11am: Here's the Guardian's artisanal, hand-curated Top 50 Twitter accounts to follow for the 2012 US election campaign:
With the 2012 US presidential election heating up, we've selected the top 50 Twitter accounts for following the latest news and analysis, so you can keep up with all the talking points, attack ads, surprises and polling throughout the 2012 campaign as they happen.With the 2012 US presidential election heating up, we've selected the top 50 Twitter accounts for following the latest news and analysis, so you can keep up with all the talking points, attack ads, surprises and polling throughout the 2012 campaign as they happen.
This list is constructed entirely from Fair Trade, organic, locally-sourced Twitter ingredients foraged from the internet. It will soon open retail outlets in Park Slope, NYC, and 14th Street in DC, before being sold to Unilever.This list is constructed entirely from Fair Trade, organic, locally-sourced Twitter ingredients foraged from the internet. It will soon open retail outlets in Park Slope, NYC, and 14th Street in DC, before being sold to Unilever.
10.46am: Guys! Politicians sometimes take their opponents words out of context, and the New York Times is ON IT:10.46am: Guys! Politicians sometimes take their opponents words out of context, and the New York Times is ON IT:
By the time November rolls around, it's possible that the dueling moments on Friday will have been forgotten amid the hype over national political conventions, Mr Romney's vice-presidential pick, three debates and the final run-up to Election Day.By the time November rolls around, it's possible that the dueling moments on Friday will have been forgotten amid the hype over national political conventions, Mr Romney's vice-presidential pick, three debates and the final run-up to Election Day.
Or, one — or both — of the phrases may becoming a significant moment in the effort to define the two candidates.Or, one — or both — of the phrases may becoming a significant moment in the effort to define the two candidates.
Only time will tell.Only time will tell.
Now there's a conclusion no one has ever used before: "Only time will tell."Now there's a conclusion no one has ever used before: "Only time will tell."
[Hat-tip to @NYTOnIt for the meme.][Hat-tip to @NYTOnIt for the meme.]
10.25am: The Romney campaign, via press secretary Andrea Saul, has responded to the latest attack ad on Romney's record as governor:10.25am: The Romney campaign, via press secretary Andrea Saul, has responded to the latest attack ad on Romney's record as governor:
President Obama has overseen trillion-dollar deficits, soaring national debt and the first credit downgrade in history. Mitt Romney, on the other hand, closed a $3bn budget shortfall, balanced four budgets, left a $2bn rainy day fund and received a credit rating upgrade. President Obama will do anything to distract from his abysmal economic record and – despite that record – the fact that he thinks the private sector is 'doing fine.' Mitt Romney knows our country can do better and, under his leadership, it will do better.President Obama has overseen trillion-dollar deficits, soaring national debt and the first credit downgrade in history. Mitt Romney, on the other hand, closed a $3bn budget shortfall, balanced four budgets, left a $2bn rainy day fund and received a credit rating upgrade. President Obama will do anything to distract from his abysmal economic record and – despite that record – the fact that he thinks the private sector is 'doing fine.' Mitt Romney knows our country can do better and, under his leadership, it will do better.
The ad is scheduled to run in the battleground states of Colorado, Florida, Iowa, North Carolina, New Hampshire, Nevada, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Virginia.The ad is scheduled to run in the battleground states of Colorado, Florida, Iowa, North Carolina, New Hampshire, Nevada, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Virginia.
10.13am: Here's a scary story, via reporting and research done by ProPublica, on how Microsoft and Yahoo sell political campaigns "the ability to target voters online with tailored ads using names, zip codes and other registration information that users provide" when they sign up for web services.10.13am: Here's a scary story, via reporting and research done by ProPublica, on how Microsoft and Yahoo sell political campaigns "the ability to target voters online with tailored ads using names, zip codes and other registration information that users provide" when they sign up for web services.
Users get no notification that their information is being used for political targeting – and the two companies can maintain they have clean hands because the matching is done elsewhere:Users get no notification that their information is being used for political targeting – and the two companies can maintain they have clean hands because the matching is done elsewhere:
Microsoft and Yahoo said they safeguard the privacy of their users and do not share their users' personal information directly with the campaigns. Both companies also said they do not see the campaigns' political data, because the match of voter names and registration data is done by a third company. They say the matching is done to target groups of similar voters, and not named individuals.Microsoft and Yahoo said they safeguard the privacy of their users and do not share their users' personal information directly with the campaigns. Both companies also said they do not see the campaigns' political data, because the match of voter names and registration data is done by a third company. They say the matching is done to target groups of similar voters, and not named individuals.
ProPublica reports that Google and Facebook do not sell similar services.ProPublica reports that Google and Facebook do not sell similar services.
9.47am: The special election today in Arizona may see another victory for the Republican party, despite the unhappy circumstances that lead to Gabrielle Giffords relinquishing it earlier this year:9.47am: The special election today in Arizona may see another victory for the Republican party, despite the unhappy circumstances that lead to Gabrielle Giffords relinquishing it earlier this year:
The names on the ballot will be Ron Barber as the Democrat and Jesse Kelly as the Republican. But perhaps the two more important names in the race are those of Giffords and President Obama – the former still invoking significant goodwill here, the latter far less so.The names on the ballot will be Ron Barber as the Democrat and Jesse Kelly as the Republican. But perhaps the two more important names in the race are those of Giffords and President Obama – the former still invoking significant goodwill here, the latter far less so.
Mr Barber is a former top aide of Ms Giffords and is her hand-picked successor and was also injured in the January 2011 Tucson shooting that killed six people and injured 13 at the congresswoman's meet-and-greet event outside a grocery store. In the final hours leading to the special election, Giffords, who rarely appears in public, stumped for Barber at a weekend get-out-the-vote concert in Tucson.Mr Barber is a former top aide of Ms Giffords and is her hand-picked successor and was also injured in the January 2011 Tucson shooting that killed six people and injured 13 at the congresswoman's meet-and-greet event outside a grocery store. In the final hours leading to the special election, Giffords, who rarely appears in public, stumped for Barber at a weekend get-out-the-vote concert in Tucson.
9.30am: Political battles over the state of the US economy continue – with new figures showing the net worth of American families falling to levels last seen in 1992 – as voters in Arizona go to the polls in a special election to replace Gabrielle Giffords, the Democratic congresswoman who survived being shot in the head last year.9.30am: Political battles over the state of the US economy continue – with new figures showing the net worth of American families falling to levels last seen in 1992 – as voters in Arizona go to the polls in a special election to replace Gabrielle Giffords, the Democratic congresswoman who survived being shot in the head last year.
There are primary elections in several states today but the special election in Arizona's eighth congressional district will be the focus, as Republicans seek to make it about national issues, including the economy and healthcare.There are primary elections in several states today but the special election in Arizona's eighth congressional district will be the focus, as Republicans seek to make it about national issues, including the economy and healthcare.
Here's a summary of the latest news:Here's a summary of the latest news:
• American families suffered a record decline in household wealth between 2007 and 2010 because home values tumbled, according to a new Federal Reserve report that highlighted the severity of the recession. The median family's net worth dropped 39% from 2007 and in 2010 was at levels last seen in 1992. The median net worth – which is the value of assets minus debt – fell to $77,300 in 2010 from $126,400 in 2007.• American families suffered a record decline in household wealth between 2007 and 2010 because home values tumbled, according to a new Federal Reserve report that highlighted the severity of the recession. The median family's net worth dropped 39% from 2007 and in 2010 was at levels last seen in 1992. The median net worth – which is the value of assets minus debt – fell to $77,300 in 2010 from $126,400 in 2007.
• The Obama campaign unveiled yet another attack ad aimed at Mitt Romney's record as governor of Massachusetts.• The Obama campaign unveiled yet another attack ad aimed at Mitt Romney's record as governor of Massachusetts.
• Barack Obama is going to take another swing at selling his economic message after last week's "the private sector is doing fine" gaffe. The president will use a campaign policy speech on Thursday "to contrast his preferred approach for the country's economic future with ideas proposed by his likely Republican opponent, Mitt Romney," the Wall Street Journal reported. The speech isn't expected to include major new proposals.• Barack Obama is going to take another swing at selling his economic message after last week's "the private sector is doing fine" gaffe. The president will use a campaign policy speech on Thursday "to contrast his preferred approach for the country's economic future with ideas proposed by his likely Republican opponent, Mitt Romney," the Wall Street Journal reported. The speech isn't expected to include major new proposals.