Website calls Grijalva Winner AZ CD 3 for 6th Term

Website "electionprojection.com" says No Contest on Mercer / Grijalva vote. Barring unforeseen events, incumbent Raul Grijalva will be the winner of the Arizona Congressional District 3 on Nov. 6, his 6th term, by a landslide margin.

That doesn't mean Mercer is giving up the fight. Judging from her performance Wednesday night during the Candidate Forum at Rio Rico, she's only begun to get fired up. She is scheduled to join Grijalva and Blanca Guerra for another debate Oct 9 at 6 pm at the Pima Community College west Campus, 2202 W. Anklam Road. The event will be broadcast on Arizona Public Media on Oct 10. According to her Facebook page she is doing a radio talk show on KNST, also.

Mercer's battle is not only face to face against her opponents. She has only about $15,000 remaining in her coffers compared to Grijalva's $300,000. That combined with the 25/50 ratio of Republican to Democrat (and approximately 25% Independent) voters leaves Mercer with an uphill fight. She has to convince  approximately 350,000 people in the 700,000 person district to vote for her with only  40 days until the election.

Shortly after cruising to victory in her Primary over Jaime Vasquez with 64 percent of the vote, the Republican National Congressional Committee pulled their support from her campaign Sept 24, and Gov Jan Brewer was no show at a fundraiser Sept 12. Brewer still supports Mercer, but any statements or appearances beyond her original endorsement are yet to be seen. One analyst said Grijalva is "unbeatable". NRCC Executive Director Guy Harrison said the race "is not on our targeting map."

Mercer got into hot water over a string of toxic remarks. Grijalva called her comments "hate speech" and described her views as extremist and urged everyone who endorsed Mercer to "withdraw their support immediately.". Mercer has continued to defend her statements, which have attracted national attention.

"This is not a he-said, she-said question of interpretation. Her comments are reprehensible and deserve condemnation from every quarter," he told Reuters in a statement. "Anyone who continues to support her campaign should be asked whether they want someone with her views in Congress."

Arizona Public Media did an excellent in depth story that encapsulates her campaign. In mp3 format, you can here it here  (opens in a new tab).