Tough Competition For Kyl

Published: Wednesday, October 25, 2006 Online-Casinos.com

TOUGH COMPETITION FOR KYL

Arizona mid-terms producing an interesting tussle

According to the East Valley Tribune, Arizona Senator Jon Kyl could be facing a very strong contender for his position in the Senate during the current mid-term elections.

Kyl, a long-time opponent of online gambling and one of the politicians believed to be behind the recently passed Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act, has occupied the seat for many years but now faces a millionaire shopping centre developer called Jim Pederson who has the determination....and the backing, to give him pause for thought.

Last Friday, Pederson dropped another $1.3 million of his personal fortune into his campaign, according to federal elections records.

Pederson's latest financial infusion pushed his total tally since the start of the campaign nearly a year ago to $10.3 million, which makes him a strong runner despite contributions to the Kyl campaign from corporate interests. The state has a number of Indian land casinos.

Ironically, Pederson's latest contribution reached the second trigger in federal election laws that allows his opponents to collect as much as $12 000 from each contributor.

"It is impossible to match in the last two weeks before the election the $2 million Pederson has poured into his campaign during the last two weeks," said Kyl's spokesman Andy Chasin. The race already is the most expensive political contest in state history.

Pederson had collected $12.7 million, including the $10.3 million of his own money, according to the latest figures available from the Federal Election Commission. Kyl had collected $12.4 million through Sept. 30, according to the commission.

Kyl has yet to contribute any personal funds to the campaign.

Pederson's latest contribution pushed his total contributions ahead of Kyl's for the first time during the campaign.

The surge shows Pederson is confident of winning heading into the final two weeks of the race, said Mike O'Neil, president of O'Neil Associates, a Tempe-based market research firm.

"He's a businessman." O'Neil said. "I don't think a businessman puts (millions) into a lost cause."

Pederson listed his financial holdings on federal election disclosure forms at between $28 million and $139 million.

The latest contribution came to $1 328 729, a specific figure that almost certainly covers the cost of a sizable purchase of time for television commercials. Pederson's campaign aides declined to specify how the money is being spent.

O'Neil noted that independent surveys generally have shown that Pederson is closing the margin against two term Republican incumbent Jon Kyl.

"There's clearly a Democratic avalanche nationally in the making. I think there is so much anger about Iraq and everything, (Pederson) believes this may overcome what appears to be a moderate gap," he said.

Several online gamblers who vote in the state have been encouraging Americans with like interests to show their displeasure at Kyl's activities against online gambling by voting for his opponent.