Pederson gets fundraising help from Wesley Clark
Originally published in the Business Journal
The Business Journal of Phoenix - 2:24 PM MST Tuesday
Pederson gets fundraising help from Wesley Clark
Mike Sunnucks
The Business Journal
Democratic U.S. Senate candidate and Valley real estate executive Jim Pederson is getting some more high profile help in his run against Republican incumbent Jon Kyl.
Former Democratic presidential candidate and U.S. Army general Wesley Clark is the latest high-profile backer of Pederson to solicit funds on his behalf.
Clark, who was also Supreme Allied Commander for NATO, sent out an e-mail to his supporters in late December, asking them to support Pederson's Senate bid.
Clark termed Kyl an ultra-conservative in his e-mail to supporters on behalf of Pederson.
Pederson, the former chairman of the Arizona Democratic Party and a top shopping center developer in the state, is challenging Kyl in this year's election. The race is expected to be the most expensive in state history and national Democrats list Arizona as one of their top targets in 2006.
Pederson has been a top contributor to Democratic causes in recent years and has already received some campaign help from Sens. John Kerry of Massachusetts and Barack Obama of Illinois, as well as from Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano.
Clark, who cuts a more moderate path on key issues, made a number of appearances in Arizona during his 2004 presidential bid and was in Phoenix last year.
"We are delighted to have General Clark's help and are looking forward to working with him in this campaign. General Clark has always been willing to reach across party lines and find solutions to the most important domestic and foreign policy issues facing our nation," said Pederson campaign spokeswoman Selena Shilad.
Kyl has received his own national help, including a fundraiser hosted late last year by President Bush and Arizona Sen. John McCain.
McCain is chairing Kyl's re-election effort.
