Carmona to visit Washington for fundraising, meetings

The fundraiser will take place at the Caucus Room in downtown D.C. and the invite, passed along to reporters by the Arizona Republican Party, asks for contributions ranging from $500 to $5,000 in support of Carmona’s Senate bid.

{mosads}His campaign confirmed that he would be in the city on Friday, with “some fundraising and meetings to knock out,” according to spokesman Andy Barr. Typically a visit to Washington by a Senate candidate includes meetings with top party brass on Capitol Hill, but Barr would not confirm details on any meetings.

The Friday morning fundraiser is hosted by a number of prominent Democratic supporters, including Oscar Ramirez, a consultant with the Podesta Group who worked on Barack Obama and John Kerry’s presidential campaigns; and Melinda Maxfield, currently with Williams & Jensen, who previously worked for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee.

Arizona GOP spokesman Tim Sifert characterized the fundraiser as a meeting with Carmona’s “liberal allies” and said it was further evidence the candidate — who was recruited personally by Obama — will be a staunch supporter of the president and his party.

“It’s just another reminder that Democrats in Washington are expecting Carmona to be a rubberstamp for President Obama’s failed agenda,” he said in a statement.

The “rubber-stamp” attack is one Republicans are leaning on heavily in Arizona, in hopes that the red-leaning state will find any candidate in the unpopular president’s pocket distasteful. In the most recent poll of the state, Romney held a 9 percentage-point lead over Obama. Carmona has attempted throughout his campaign to frame himself as a moderate reformer unbeholden to any party.

Carmona’s campaign hit back, with spokesman Andy Barr pointing out that Flake, too, is getting backing from his own party.

“Congressman Flake was just in San Francisco and will soon be in New York
City for fundraisers. On top of that, this 12-year incumbent and former
lobbyist is hosting Liz Cheney at an event in Phoenix he’s hiding from
the press. Flake’s campaign may want to look at his schedule before they launch their attacks,” Barr said in an email.

Though Rep. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) has been up in most polls, Democrats feel that Carmona, who was surgeon general in the George W. Bush Administration, will have enough crossover appeal to take the state. He has made a strong showing in fundraising and his visit to Washington is an indication that the national party is excited about its prospects in Arizona.

–This post was published at 3:51 p.m. and updated at 5:33 p.m.