FIRST WATCH: Sean Noble's American Encore Re-Introducing Post-Primary Doug Ducey As "Independent" (FOLLOWING MONEY IN ARIZONA'S POLITICS)

In TV ads that began running over the weekend, American Encore is re-introducing Arizona Treasurer Doug Ducey as "independent", following a bruising Republican primary battle that saw him emphasizing his conservative positions.

American Encore ("AE") is chaired by Sean Noble and is among the best-known dark money groups in the nation.  AE was formerly known as the Center to Protect Patient Rights.  Although AE was not directly involved in the primary battle, it was widely assumed that Noble was pulling the strings on other Independent Expenditure efforts to benefit Ducey's candidacy.

The full extent of this new ad buy is not yet available, although $11,300 in ads were purchased on KSAZ (Phoenix' Channel 10), which began airing this past Sunday and run through this Thursday.

The ad features footage from Ducey's speech announcing his gubernatorial candidacy.  That footage became the subject of controversy early in the primary battle when it was learned that Noble's consultancy DC London was behind getting the footage available for other IE groups to use.

The ad is titled "Independent" and emphasizes that he will "listen to everyone".

Ducey is facing Democrat Fred DuVal and Libertarian Barry Hess in the November 4 election to succeed Gov. Jan Brewer.

We welcome your comments about this post. Or, if you have something unrelated on your mind, please e-mail to info-at-arizonaspolitics-dot-com or call 602-799-7025. Thanks.