Campbell beats DuVal if he enters governor’s race

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Arizona House Minority leader Chad Campbell is ahead in the Democrat Primary race for governor, and he hasn’t even entered it yet. According to a recent poll, Campbell would beat the only current candidate in the Democrat’s race; Fred DuVal, for the General Election ballot.

According to a poll, by a Virginia-based firm, which questioned 623 likely Democratic primary voters, Campbell would start the race with a 13-point lead. The Yellow Sheet reports that the “live-caller poll, which was conducted by Myers Research & Strategic Services between May 22 and June 13, has a +/- 3.9 percentage point margin of error. Campbell’s lead increased after the pollster tested a series of positive and negative messages on him and DuVal.”

In one portion of the poll, after respondents were told that Campbell offered a detailed plan to fund schools and keep communities safe, and that DuVal has been a leader in renewable energy and was fighting to reduce America’s dependence on foreign oil, “Campbell’s lead jumped to 55-26 with 19 percent undecided,” according to the Sheet.

Andrew Myers, the firm’s president and CEO told the Yellow Sheet, “Frankly, as I look at the poll, it’s just an upward trajectory for Campbell. Were he to be in the race, I think he’s the guy to beat.”

Both candidates had low name ID, according to the poll, which found that 82 percent had no opinion on DuVal and 84 percent had no opinion on Campbell.

“It kind of reinforces what we’ve been thinking all along, which is, if I enter the race, I’m in a very good position in the primary,” Campbell told a Yellow Sheet reporter. “I haven’t even been campaigning for the past five months, so I think that underscores the position that I’m in if I enter the primary.”

The poll pointed out that DuVal had voted to increase tuition when he served as a regent, and worked as a career lobbyist for big oil. DuVal denies the claim.

Last week, Campbell threatened fellow lawmaker and democrat Victoria Steel from Tucson, for her endorsement of DuVal.

Steel told the Yellow Sheet that Campbell called her and threatened retribution. According to the Sheet, Steele said Campbell threatened to kill her legislation and committee assignments next year.

“He did say, ‘I have a long memory and I will never forget what you did,’” Steele said according to the Sheet. “I think it was mostly in the heat of the moment. He was not happy. He was angry. I don’t think he meant it. He was just venting. He was just pissed off and letting off steam,” the Sheet quoted Steele.

Campbell is denying Steel’s claim. He told the Sheet, “I never threatened her with anything.” Campbell told the Sheet that he did call her but that he simply said she should have given him a heads up.

Campbell said that he was owed a call especially in light of the fact that he helped her and Representative Ethan Orr get funding for their mental healthcare plan.