Candidates sprint in last leg

The Associated Press

PHOENIX Ä Republican Gov. Fife Symington hopscotched across northern Arizona Monday, stumping for votes in some traditional Democratic strongholds, while Democrat Eddie Basha stayed close to home, campaigning in Phoenix, Mesa and Tempe.

Both were looking for the votes to put them over the top Tuesday when voters cast ballots for governor, U.S. Senator, Congress and all other statewide offices.

Also at stake will be all 90 seats in the legislature, a host of local offices and nine ballot propositions, the most controversial of which would levy a new tobacco tax to pay for expanded indigent health care and amend the state constitution to allow lawmakers to place limits on damages in personal injury lawsuits.

Other ballot proposals before the voters include measures that would create the office of lieutenant governor, make it more difficult for the state to regulate private property, outlaw the use of steel-jawed traps on government land, repeal the personal-property tax on livestock and give legislators a pay raise.

Republicans headed for Prescott and an election eve rally on the steps of the Yavapai County Courthouse Monday evening. The main attraction was retired Sen. Barry Goldwater, whose own senate campaigns were kicked off on the courthouse steps.

Republican U.S. Senate candidate Jon Kyl joined Symington and Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., for a whirlwind tour of northern Arizona that took them from Bullhead City to Tuba City and Window Rock on the Navajo Reservation.

Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Sam Coppersmith spent the day looking for votes among city and county workers in Phoenix, Flagstaff, Tucson and Yuma.

Basha met with business leaders in Mesa and students

at Marcos de Niza High School in Tempe before lunching with supporters and campaigning in downtown Phoenix.

Basha went from table to table at the downtown restaurant, greeting diners and passing out "Vote for Basha" stickers.

At one table, occupied by three diners, Basha knocked over a glass of iced tea as he reached out to shake hands.

"Oh no, there goes three votes for Symington," he quipped.

Also on Basha's election eve schedule were appearances at a get-out-the vote news conference called by Hispanic leaders at quitting time at a Phoenix plant and a downtown office building.

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