Key Supporters (see note below)

State Senator Bob Cannell (Dist. 24)     -announced Nov. 25, 2003 State Sen. Jack Jackson Sr. State Representative Manny Alvarez State Representative David Bradley State Representative Cheryl Chase State Representative Steve Gallardo        -all announced March 21, 2003 State Representative Jack Jackson Jr. State Representative John Loredo, Minority Leader State Representative Robert Meza Clarence Dupnik, Pima County Sheriff    -announced Jan. 12, 2004 José M. Sanchez, Gila County Supervisor    -announced Dec. 17, 2003 Cruz Salas, Gila County Supervisor    -announced Dec. 17, 2003 Jesse Thompson, Navajo County Supervisor    -announced Dec. 17, 2003 Mary Rose Wilcox, Maricopa County Supervisor    -announced March 21, 2003 Paul Newman, Cochise County Supervisor      -announced March 21, 2003 Robert Damon, Santa Cruz County Supervisor     -announced July 1, 2003 Marty Moreno, Sahuarita Vice Mayor     -announced July 1, 2003 Frank Acuña, Eloy Vice Mayor     -announced July 1, 2003 Division XI District Family Court Judge Ernesto J. Romero (Albuquerque-Bernalillo County)   -announced Jan. 20, 2004 and Former U.S. Senator Dennis DeConcini       -announced Nov. 25, 2003 Former Gov. Raul Castro (elected in 1974 and served until 1977, then stepped down to take posting as Ambassador to Argentina).    -announced May 30, 2003. Laborers' Local 383  -announced March 21, 2003 and Arizona Republic     -January 29, 2004

 

Note. In Tucson on March 21, 2003, Sen. Lieberman was the first of the candidates to announce major endorsements.  The elected officials included 11 of the 20 Democratic state representatives.  However, five of the state legislators subsequently switched their support to other candidates.

Initial List of Supporters (March 21, 2003)

State Senator Richard Miranda -switched to Edwards June 11, 2003. State Representative Amanda Aguirre    -switched to Kerry October 22, 2003. State Representative Manny Alvarez State Representative David Bradley State Representative Ernest Bustamante    -switched to Kerry October 22, 2003. State Representative Cheryl Chase State Representative Steve Gallardo State Representative Jack Jackson Jr. State Representative John Loredo, Minority Leader State Representative Robert Meza State Representative Ben Miranda     -switched to Kerry September 13, 2003. State Representative Wally Straughn      -switched to Edwards June 11, 2003. Mary Rose Wilcox, Maricopa County Supervisor Paul Newman, Cochise County Supervisor and  Laborers' Local 383

Here's a December 10, 2003 summary from the Lieberman campaign:

JOE LIEBERMAN'S STRENGTH IN ARIZONA 

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KEY TO VICTORY: LATINOS, MODERATES, ENDORSEMENTS 
 ·       Joe Lieberman will win Arizona’s Feb. 3 primary because his appeal among the state’s moderate, independent-minded voters, strength in the Latino community (25% of the state’s population), and early lead in endorsements.

 ·       The Forward wrote that “Arizona's moderate, upscale primary voters might prove fertile territory” for Lieberman. 

 POLLS:  JOE IN STATISTICAL TIE FOR FIRST 
 ·       The most recent public poll, in October 2003 by Behavior Research Center, shows Joe in a statistical tie for first place with Dean and Clark. 

 MORE VISITS THAN ANY OF HIS RIVALS 
 ·       Joe was the first to open a state headquarters in Arizona and has visited the state six times this year.  No candidate has visited Arizona more often.

 ·       He has campaigned more widely throughout the state than any other candidate.  He was the first and only candidate to visit the border at Nogales, the first candidate to visit the Navajo Nation reservation in northeast Arizona, and the first and only candidate to visit Yuma. 

 ·       Lieberman’s is the only campaign to spread to Arizona’s rural communities, with Rebecca Lieberman leading a 2-week tour of 24 cities on board the “WinnebaJoe.”  No other candidate has shown the same commitment to rural Arizona.

 LEADING IN MAJOR ENDORSEMENTS 
 ·       Senator John McCain put it best: “Arizona is just too big for retail politics. Television, radio and endorsements are what matter.” (Roll Call, 11/3/03)

 ·       Roll Call said that Joe’s “attention has paid off with the most extensive and impressive list of local endorsements. He has the backing of former Gov. Raul Castro, state House Minority Leader John Loredo and Maricopa County (Phoenix) Supervisor Mary Rose Wilcox.” 

 ·       Joe locked up support early on from 9 State Legislators - far more than any of his rivals - and Laborer’s Local 383 Union. 

 ·       Most recently, Joe picked up the backing of former Sen. Dennis DeConcini, who “carries a considerable amount of influence here," political consultant Bob Grossfeld said.

 ONLY CANDIDATE ADDRESSING LOCAL CONCERNS 
 ·       Instead of simply bringing a national message to Arizona, Joe is tackling local concerns. 
 ·       “Lieberman is also the one candidate tailoring his message regularly to local concerns in Arizona, such as border security, immigration and forest preservation,” AZ analyst Craig Columbus told Roll Call.

 ·       Joe was the first candidate to release a comprehensive immigration policy, inspired by his visit to the U.S.-Mexico border in Arizona, and has been outspoken about the effects that George Bush’s abandonment of immigration reforms.

 ·       Lieberman has done extensive outreach to the Latino community, has earned the support of more Latino elected officials than any other candidate, and has four bilingual staff members in Arizona.