AZ-08: Hiral Tipirneni outraises Debbie Lesko as Arizona's CD8 race enters final stage

[RandySF]

Democrat Hiral Tipirneni outraised Republican Debbie Lesko as their race for a vacant Arizona congressional seat entered its final stage, campaign finance records show.

Tipirneni built her modest financial advantage on the strength of small-dollar donors, who collectively provided her with more money than Lesko took in from all individuals.

Lesko closed much of the financial gap by raking in significantly more money from political-action committees and other special interests than Tipirneni, but had relatively little cash as of April 4, the cutoff for the report.

Trent Franks, the veteran Republican whose abrupt December resignation over sexual misconduct allegations created the vacancy in the 8th Congressional District, gave Lesko $2,700, the maximum permitted for the general election.

Overall, Tipirneni raised $434,000 from all sources between Feb. 8 and April 4. Lesko raised $367,000 from all sources in the same period. Tipirneni ended the period with $125,000 on hand compared to $54,000 for Lesko.

Republican groups, who have seen recent GOP losses in Alabama and rural Pennsylvania, have kicked in about $700,000 in outside spending to help boost Lesko in the conservative-leaning district. Outside Democratic groups have largely ignored the race, but a new group headed by activist Ady Barkan plans to spend "six figures" in the race's closing days.



https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/politics/elections/2018/04/13/hiral-tipirneni-outraises-debbie-lesko-arizona-congressional-district-8-race/515993002/

[oasis]

1. Blue tsunami coming on strong as GOP tosses money at losers.

[marybourg]

2. I live in the deepest red part

of this district. Tiperneni is winning the lawn sign contest here 8:1. Never in my 25 years here have I seen so many D lawn signs (usually 0) and so few R ones. If you can help out here, it would make a difference.

[beachbum bob]

3. Tipirneni has a very slight chance as latest polling has her 10pts back and Lesco is at 53%

with only 4% undecided but turnout is a huge factor and its always possible but, is not likely. We do have trump and his antics and a real possibility of cuts coming to SS and Medicare...if Tipirneni ran any adds on what the cuts can do the retirees...they may think twice.....We are making republicans defend every seat with lots of spending on their part and they can't sustain it even with Koch Brothers $400 coming for Nov's election.

Could set a stage for a rematch in november.