Arizona is currently widely thought of as a "toss-up" state in the 2012 presidential contest, and important in the electoral college math for the Republicans. Traditionally, that might indicate that the nominee might look to that state's politicians for a possible VP running mate. Not this year.
The Public Policy Polling ("PPP") polling information on the Obama-Romney race that came out yesterday featured some very interesting information that has not appeared to make its way into most news coverage: Arizona's three best-known Republican office-holders would drag down presumptive GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney if they were added to his ticket. That is, they would drag him down... in Arizona.
Romney polled a 50%-43% lead against Obama (approximately 8% undecided), with a margin of error of 4.4%. However, if Arizona Governor Jan Brewer were added to the Romney national ticket, his Arizona lead would shrink to 48%-44%. If he instead chose to add his former rival and 2008 presidential nominee John McCain, Romney's lead here would be almost as precarious - 48%-43% (with a few more people choosing "undecided".
But Romney's worst "favorite son" choice in this swing state would be our self-touted America's Toughest Sheriff. Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio would make the state a virtual toss-up, with Obama only trailing by 44%-46%.
The pollster, in their automated telephone interviews of 500 Arizonans, also asked for "approval/disapproval" impressions of Brewer's and McCain's "job performance", and "favorable/unfavorable opinion". Brewer (47%-45%) and Arpaio (46%-45%) broke even, while McCain was likely dragged down by low approvals of Congress generally and lingering bad feelings among some Republicans (36%-54%).
PPP is a Democratic-leaning pollster that - as noted earlier - uses automated telephone polling.
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