Gov: McCain shouldn’t take Ariz. vote for granted

DENVER—Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano warned GOP Sen. John McCain on Tuesday not to take his home state for granted in the November election.

She told the Colorado delegation to the Democratic National Convention that there is evidence McCain is losing support among voters in that state, with up to a third of the voters still undecided. She said those voters will be the deciding factor in this year’s election.

“Our message to Sen. McCain is, ‘Don’t take your home state for granted. This is going to be a tough election,” she said.

Napolitano said like Colorado, Arizona Democrats have made significant gains, going from seven Republicans and one Democrat in the U.S. House to four Republicans and four Democrats in less than a decade. This year, Democrats are hoping to capture two more House seats, she said.

She said Colorado Democrats served as a model for Western state Democratic gains, capturing the state Legislature for the first time in 42 years in 2004.

“Our next big goal is do what you did in Colorado,” she said.

She said Arizona should be included among Western states likely to vote for Obama this year, including Colorado, New Mexico and Nevada.

Robert Kihm, a delegate from Centennial pledged to Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama, said Obama is building a grassroots effort that is taking hold in the West, opening campaign offices for a flood of supporters, while McCain is struggling.

“There is an enthusiasm gap that we are exploiting. It’s amazing. I have Republican neighbors and independent neighbors who reregistered as Democrats because they wanted to take part in the caucuses. They’re crossing over,” he said.