The race between Republican Robert Scantlebury and Democrat Eva Burch is considered a bellwether race for control of Arizona’s State Senate, and the district is Arizona’s most competitive on paper, but voters say the intense competition is no excuse for Burch’s attempt to conceal Scantlebury’s Christian beliefs.Scantlebury’s website photo shows him wearing a cross on a necklace and it is apparently something he wears virtually all the time. While not overtly religious in how he handles himself, Scantlebury’s personal faith is something he credits as the source of his values, especially regarding the family, life, and personal freedom.In a recent mailer attacking Scantlebury on abortion, the Planned Parenthood endorsed Burch used the now familiar picture of Scantlebury, but inexplicably photoshopped the crucifix off of the picture, hoping to remove Scantlebury’s faith from the equation for voters in this relatively religious East Valley district.
Burch claims her campaign took the crucifix off without her knowledge, but that response rings hollow to Scantlebury supporters and Scantlebury himself, who decried that “The Democrats want to take God out of everything.”“Burch knows the picture because Scantlebury uses it on everything, so no one believes her.” said one pro-Scantlebury voter, adding “But remember that this is a lady who has made more abortions the centerpiece of her campaign, so of course she wouldn’t want voters to know her opponent is a man of faith.”