ST. PAUL, Minn. – As Grand Canyon State voters headed out to the polls today, the state’s Republican Party chair speculated that the GOP primary in the 5th Congressional District was a jump ball between two candidates.

“My understanding is that it’s pretty much a dead-heat between” former Maricopa County Treasurer David Schweikert and former Scottsdale City Councilwoman Susan Bitter Smith, Arizona Republican Party Chairman Randy Pullen told PolitickerAZ.com today.

The contest between Schweikert and Bitter Smith for the right to take on U.S. Rep. Harry Mitchell (D-Tempe) has taken on an increasingly hostile tone in recent weeks, with the Schweikert-backing Club for Growth targeting Bitter Smith on the suburban Phoenix airwaves.

“It’s gotten a little nasty,” Pullen acknowledged.

But he said it was unlikely that the fighting would allow another candidate, such as former lobbyist Jim Ogsbury, to run up the middle and steal out a win.

“I don’t think that will happen,” said Pullen.

Asked for his prediction on the outcome of the race, former U.S. Rep. J.D. Hayworth, who lost his seat to Mitchell in 2006, said he didn’t know.

“All I know is all six candidates are heads and shoulders above the incumbent,” said Hayworth, who served six consecutive terms in the House. “I know it’s been a hard-fought contest and I look forward to seeing our standard bearer take the seat in November.”

Hayworth has declined to endorse in the primary but said that he has made his advice available to candidates running for the seat.