ARIZONA GOP DEBATE WILL INCLUDE QUESTIONS FROM LOCALS

posted to Political Buzz by Andrea Kelly

Tonight’s debate is the twenty first scheduled so far this presidential election cycle, so CNN decided to mix it up a bit.

For the first time, the four front-runner GOP candidates are sitting side-by-side at a table, instead of standing behind lecterns.

The change is because a field of just four candidates allows for a more intimate setting, says Sam Feist, CNN's Washington bureau chief.

Some of the questions the candidates will field at that table will be from Arizonans.

CNN worked with the Arizona Republican Party to help find some undecided voters, Fiest says, and started with a list of hundreds of people.

“We get that pool of voters down to truly undecided voters, people who just frankly haven’t made up their mind, they haven’t been involved in anybody’s campaign, they haven’t made any contributions whatsoever and so that’s the group of people that will be in a position to ask some questions," he says.

The debate gets underway at 6 p.m. and is the last scheduled before Arizona’s primary next Tuesday. It’s also the last before several states vote on Super Tuesday, March 6.

STAND BY YOUR MAN

posted to Political Buzz by Christopher Conover

The final debate before Arizona's GOP presidential primary is just a few hours away and final preparations are underway. The City of Mesa is showing the debate on a huge screen in front of the Mesa Arts Center. Right now organizers are setting up hundreds of chairs as well as tents for food vendors. The whole event is meant to be a bit of a party. Political candidates for Arizona's open US Senate seat are also setting up booths to promote their campaigns to the GOP faithful who are on hand to watch the debate.

Dozens of Ron Paul supporters including a woman named Shay, showed up hours in advance to make sure their candidate is well represented. She said all the Paul supporters standing in front of the venue are now friends.

Arizona is one of two GOP primaries scheduled for next Tuesday.

PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE TONIGHT; WE'LL BE THERE

posted to Political Buzz by Michael Chihak

Arizona Public Media will have two seats at the Republican presidential debate in Mesa tonight.

Political correspondents Christopher Conover and Andrea Kelly will cover and provide details for NPR 89.1, for Thursday's Arizona Illustrated and for online and our social media outlets.

Mitt Romney, Rick Santorum, Newt Gingrich and Ron Paul will square off in front of a live audience in what will decidedly be Romney territory.

The debate will be nationally telecast on CNN.

FRIDAY: SEN. PRES. PIERCE, BUDGET CHIEF ARNOLD

posted to AZ Week Notebook by Michael Chihak

The Arizona Senate and House Appropriations Committees have passed identical bills for an $8.8 million state budget for fiscal 2012-13. The plan does not include several hundred million dollars in enhancements sought by Gov. Jan Brewer.

On Friday's Arizona Week, we will review the situation, in interviews with the governor's budget director, John Arnold, and state Senate President Steve Pierce. Legislative reporters Mary Jo Pitzl of the Arizona Republic and Luige del Puerto of the Arizona Capitol Times will comment on and analyze the situation.

Brewer proposed a budget that would increase spending slightly from the current fiscal year after revenue numbers began coming in stronger than projected.

Her proposal would provide $100 million in capital spending for K-12, a category of spending that the state has largely ignored for a few years as school facilities age and crumble.

She also calls for $50 million for adding maximum-security prison beds and staffing, $7 million for tourism promotion and $10 million for community college scholarships.

The GOP leadership has pushed a budget that excludes those items. It does include a $3.7 million allocation for increased mental health care and a $250 million rainy day fund.

Some rank-and-file Republicans are saying they aren't entirely happy with the committee-passed proposal. They and leadership note that the committee passage is a starting point for negotiating.

BUDGET BATTLE BEGINS: BREWER VS. LAWMAKERS

posted to AZ Week Notebook by Michael Chihak

Gov. Jan Brewer outlined a modestly increased Arizona state budget in her State of the State speech last month, saying the state's positive cash flow meant some deep cuts of the last few years could be restored.

Republican legislators who had hinted they wouldn't increase spending to her or the Democrats' likings expanded on that Monday by proposing a budget with no significant increases.

The biggest new item in it is $250 million proposed for a rainy day fund. Legislators say they need to squirrel away money because precarious financial footing is in the offing: end of 2013 expiration of the 1-cent education sales tax; the as-yet unknown costs of the national health care package; the possibility of a second recession.

Brewer's spokesman, Matt Benson, pushed back, saying the governor wants her increases for sorely needed programs. That would include $100 million for K-12 capital funding, $50 million for school reading programs, 5 percent raises for state employees and buy-back of the mortgaged state Capitol buildings.

On Friday's Arizona Week, we will get the latest developments from Arizona Senate President Steve Pierce, other legislators and others involved in the budgeting process.

NEW POLL SHOWS SANTORUM GAINING ON ROMNEY IN AZ

posted to Political Buzz by Andrea Kelly

The latest Arizona poll on the Republican Presidential primary shows Mitt Romney holds a smaller lead on Rick Santorum than other recent polls indicated.

Public Policy Polling released a poll today showing the two are within the margin of error with Romney taking 36 percent of the respondents' support to Santorum's 33 percent. Newt Gingrich is in a distant third place and Ron Paul in fourth. The survey was conducted Feb. 17 through 19, and includes responses from 412 "likely primary voters."

Last week American Research Group published the results of its latest Arizona poll conducted with 600 likely primary voters in late January. It showed Romney with 38 percent of the poll votes. Santorum had 31 percent.

Also last week, Rasmussen Reports released a poll of 750 likely Republican primary voters who weighed in that 39 percent of them would vote for Romney, to Santorum's 31 percent.

In recent weeks, Santorum has gained popularity after winning the caucuses in Minnesota, Colorado and Missouri, and Santorum leads Romney in polling in Michigan, which votes Feb. 28. the same day as Arizonans.