I was running through the Arizona election results and the first district got my attention on the Secretary of State Election Results page when I noticed Rick Renzi won by 59% to 35% by Paul Babbitt, very strong for any Freshman seeking reelection.

I think this goes to a point where Renzi has differed from the rest of the Arizona delegation, he actually brings the district's tax dollars home. McCain and most of the Representatives are afraid of bringing home federal dollars lest it gets labeled pork. The problem is with this mindset is the state doesn't get it's tax dollars sent home, especially from my own Congressional experience in transportation issues. Renzi has brought home a number of projects which points to his success in the election.

Then I went to the Coconino County Election Results page. A fact I missed when I was looking at the state page suddenly jumped out at me. Renzi is in a deadheat with Paul Babbitt in the county. They are seperated as I look right now by 44 votes (out of roughly 45,000 votes WOW!) . Babbitt had in theory all the advantages in this county, name recognition, history of local public service, long family history, etc. In the end Renzi's hard work the last two years kept him even and that played big into his winning. Back at the State page in ever other county Renzi won nearly 2 to 1 over Babbitt, except Pinal. Babbitt lacked name recognition other than his brother, the former Gov and Secretary of Interior. In fact Greenlee county a coworker from there told me today how the county was heavily Democratic but the name Babbitt only brings back bad memories which may explain the results there. The other counties may have delivered the win, but the tie in Coconino county allowed for it to happen.

One other humerous note I see that Coconino Counties results for President are a near reverse mirror image of the states result for President. It just goes to show the local, ahem, flavor.