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Heinz kerry says bush will find osama before election { September 24 2004 } Original Source Link: (May no longer be active)
http://phoenix.bizjournals.com/phoenix/stories/2004/09/20/daily58.htmlhttp://phoenix.bizjournals.com/phoenix/stories/2004/09/20/daily58.html
Heinz Kerry helps Democrats raise $1M at Phoenix event
Mike Sunnucks
September 24, 2004
The Business Journal
Arizona Democrats raked in more than $1 million Wednesday night at a fund-raiser headlined by Teresa Heinz Kerry.
Heinz Kerry criticized the Bush administration on tax cuts, Iraq and the war on terrorism at the event, which was held at the Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa.
In regard to the hunt for terror leader Osama Bin Laden, Heinz Kerry said she could see the al-Qaida chief being caught before the November election.
"I wouldn't be surprised if he appeared in the next month," said Heinz Kerry, alluding to a possible capture by United States and allied forces before election day.
The spouse of Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry also hit President Bush on Iraq, saying it should not be equated with anti-terrorism efforts and that the current administration chose to create a "hotbed for terrorism" in Iraq when dictator Saddam Hussein did not pose an immediate threat. Heinz Kerry also said she agrees with her husband that a military draft may be reinstated under Bush.
She said she was embarrassed to receive tax cuts advocated by Bush and supports her husband's efforts to roll them back for higher incomes and use those funds for education, health care and deficit reduction.
Bush Southwestern campaign spokesman Danny Diaz hit the Kerry campaign on both the Iraq and draft issues. Diaz said the Kerry camp is "irresponsible" for bringing up the draft issue and contends the Democrat is doing it for political gain.
Diaz also criticized Kerry for shifting positions on Iraq on the campaign trail after voting to authorize military action in 2002.
"Arizonans need a president they can count on, a leader who knows what he believes, and after reading the morning's paper, doesn't shift his stance to accommodate the opposition," Diaz said.
The Biltmore event was the largest single fund-raising event by state Democrats, displaying the prowess on that front by state party chairman Jim Pederson and Gov. Janet Napolitano.
Several of the main sponsors of the fund-raiser included groups that often clash with business interests.
That list includes the Arizona Trial Lawyers Association, Arizona AFL-CIO, United Food and Commercial Workers Union and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees.
Business interests view litigation reforms to reduce class action and frivolous lawsuits as a top issue in Bush's favor.
Groups such as the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and National Federation of Independent Business are not pleased with Kerry's pick of North Carolina Sen. John Edwards, a former trial lawyer and opponent of business-backed tort reform, as his running mate.
Kerry also has not backed business efforts on litigation reforms. Bush supports tort reforms.
Pederson, a Valley shopping center developer, has made fund-raising a top priority as Democratic state chairman. That includes making significant contributions himself and reaching out with Napolitano to moderate business executives.
Democratic spokeswoman Sarah Rosen said none of the money for the $1 million Wednesday event came from Pederson.
Pederson is expected to challenge GOP U.S. Sen. Jon Kyl in 2006.
There were some business lobbyists at the Heinz Kerry event, including officials and lobbyists from Pinnacle West Capital Corp., Wells Fargo Bank and the Home Builders Association of Arizona.
The event was held the same day it was announced the Kerry campaign was nixing plans to run homestretch ads in Arizona. Kerry's team had planned to begin running ads again on local stations in Phoenix and Tucson but has opted not to, bolstering GOP confidence.
Recent Arizona polls show Bush leading Kerry in the state by 6 to 11 percentage points.
Kerry Arizona campaign spokeswoman Sue Walitsky said Arizona voters still will see national cable ads, and the state still is a priority in terms of grassroots efforts.
"There is no surrender here," Walitsky said.
Arizona Republican Party Chairman Bob Fannin said the Biltmore fund-raiser will end up going to other battleground states and not Arizona.
"The Arizona Democratic Party has become little more than an ATM for the national Democrats," said Fannin. "Democrats have realized that Napolitano's election and Jim Pederson's soft money are not enough to save the Kerry campaign in Arizona."
© 2004 American City Business Journals Inc.
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