Don Bivens dropped out of the U.S. Senate race in Arizona Wednesday, clearing the way for Tucsonan Richard Carmona to claim the Democratic nomination and focus on the general election.
Politicio.com reports that Carmona was recruited for the race by President Obama, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and other leading Democrats, and that left Bivens in a difficult position for fund-raising.
In a brief press release from the Bivens' campaign, he was quoted as saying, “The continuing head-to-head competition of our Democratic primary is draining resources that we will need as a party to win the U.S. Senate race in November."
Carmona quickly acknowledged Bivens' move with his own statement, saying, "I thank Don, his family and his campaign team for their selfless service to the party and eagerly anticipate working with them to move Arizona forward. He will be an integral player in any winning strategy and I look forward to working with him in the months ahead."
The Republican Party weighed in quickly, too, labeling Obama and Carmona as big-government liberals.
“Today’s news only serves as a reminder to Arizonans that a vote for Carmona this November is a vote for President Obama’s liberal, big government agenda of higher taxes, reckless Washington spending and job-killing healthcare takeovers," National Republican Senatorial Committee Communications Director Brian Walsh said in an e-mailed statement.
On the Republican side, U.S. Rep. Jeff Flake and businessman Wil Cardon are seeking the nomination. Early polls have shown Flake well ahead, and fund-raising reports as of December showed him well in the lead gathering campaign money, too.
Carmona is a trauma surgeon and was surgeon general of the United States in President George W. Bush's first term.
Bivens is a former state Democrtic Party chairman who was the first Democrat to get into the race. Carmona joined the contest early this year.
The race is already drawing national attention because it is an open seat. Republican Jon Kyl, second in command in the GOP minority in the Senate, announced last year that he would not seek a fourth term.
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