Arizona: Dean Martin

According to the Arizona Republic, a new poll by Republican pollster Margaret Kenski suggests that the state's top elected Democrat, Attorney General Terry Goddard, would beat all current Republican potential candidates for governor. The poll found that Goddard leads accidental Gov. Jan Brewer by 16 points, Arizona Regent John Munger by 18 points, and appointed Secretary of State Ken Bennett by 15 points. The closest Republican to Goddard was state Treasurer Dean Martin, who he leads by 6.5%.

Also, Rodney Glassman, a councilman for the city of Tucson has formed an exploratory committee for Senate in 2010. Glassman told the Arizona Republic, ".

The GOP cocktail hour known as "Politics on the Rocks" is having a fundraiser for Arizona Right to Life this evening.  As you may have heard, the founder of this group,Charles Jensen, was recently embarrassed to find his name on the list of clients for a major prostitution ring called Desert Divas.  Jensen denies that he ever used the services of Desert Divas, but some say his alibi is more full of holes than swiss cheese.  Meanwhile, State Treasurer Dean Martin has canceled his scheduled appearance at a "Politics on the Rocks" event and prominent members of the board of directors for the group

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

The Arizona Guardian (subscription required) reports "Escort client list shakes up political community." Ruh-Roh Shaggy.

At least two prominent Republicans quit an influential GOP organization this weekend because its leader has been linked to one of the state’s biggest prostitution stings.

Charles Jensen, founder of Politics on the Rocks, was one of several thousand names on a list of clients of the Desert Divas, a high-end escort service busted last year by Phoenix police.

Although Jensen denies any involvement with the prostitution ring, Paradise Valley Mayor Vernon Parker and conservative talk-radio personality Mike Broomhead have resigned from the political group's advisory board. Parker last week announced his intentions to explore a run for governor at a meeting of the group at a Paradise Valley resort.

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

I have been a bit remiss lately in updating the early filers with the Arizona Secretary of State for 2010. You can play along at home at http://www.azsos.gov/cfs/CommitteeSearch.aspx.

Since the last update, former Arizona Democratic Party chairman Jim Pederson and Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon have announced that they will not be a candidate in the Democratic gubernatorial primary. Former Tempe mayor and gay rights activist Neil Giuliano is exploring running for Governor as a Democrat (he was a Republican). Republican State Treasurer Dean Martin is making noises about running for Governor, and there are persistent rumors that Republican National Committeeman John Munger is biding his time waiting to announce that he is running for Governor.