Could Richard Carmona (D) win Arizona's open Senate seat?

[cali]

PPP's latest poll has him in a statistical tie with Jeff Flake (45-43). Granted Arizona is a state where Mitt Romney has a big lead, but Flake doesn't appear to be popular state wide and Carmona is a apparently a good candidate with an excellent biography.

Richard Henry Carmona (born November 22, 1949) is an American physician, police officer, public health administrator, and politician. He was a vice admiral in the Public Health Service Commissioned Corps and served as the seventeenth Surgeon General of the United States. Appointed by President George W. Bush in 2002, Carmona left office at the end of July 2006 upon the expiration of his term. After leaving office, Carmona was highly critical of the Bush administration for suppressing scientific findings which conflicted with the Administration's ideological agenda.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Carmona

Flake has flirted intensely with the tea party and he voted against the Dream Act. Arizonans overwhelmingly support it. Barry Goldwater's daughter and grandson have endorsed Carmona. Carmona is massively out raising Flake. The PPP poll showed that independents support Carmona over Flake by a double digit margin and he has the support of 14% of Republicans while losing only 7% of dems.

Although I'd still say this is Flake's to lose, Carmona just might put this seat in the D column.

[OffWithTheirHeads]

1. I do not personally know anyone here in Az who is NOT voting for Carmona.

[cali]

2. Nice to hear! I really can't stand Flake.

[OffWithTheirHeads]

3. Youre up early!

[liberalla]

4. The Republicans have to really hate Carmona being the Dem candidate,

when in years past, they wanted him on their team.

He was an Independent before he decided to run for the Senate, and switched to 'D'.

He was seen so favorably by Arizonans and the AZ Rep party that in 2006, they attempted to recruit him to run for Jim Kolbe's (R) open congressional seat, CD8. They were looking for someone they could run against Gabrielle Giffords.

After that, they asked him to run for Governor against Janet Napolitano.

Carmona declined both requests.

I'm really hoping Arizona votes Carmona into the Senate. It would be a step toward sanity for AZ, and we really need that.

[Panasonic]

5. Big Dog is coming - and I think Carmona can win this.,

It's time for the Republicans to remove themselves from politics, completely and go minority.

Permanently.

[AzSweet]

6. I know..

..my very conservative husband is voting for him...not Flake. A good sign : )

[AzDar]

7. Yes, he can!

[bluestate10]

8. If Carmona does win, you can count on many DUERS calling him a bluedog.

In my calculation, any democrat is better than Kyle.

[liberalla]

9. I agree. He is his own man and will do what he believes best.

Not always what progressives and liberals may want. BUT, he is all about doing what's right for the MANY, not for the few. He knows what hard work is. He's grounded, sane and science-based. THAT will be a huge improvement right there.

For a statewide office, he's about the best Arizona could elect.... until there's a massive swing away from conservatism, RW radicalism, teaparty-ism, etc.

I'll be very comfortable with his representation.

[hrmjustin]

10. Flake has always been like Ron Paul when it comes to saying no to everything.

he is not that popular.

[grantcart]

11. moved just in time to register and vote for him.