Pearce has a considerable financial advantage. According to the ABC affiliate, Pearce “raised an eye-popping $230,000—including donations from more than 40 states—compared to Lewis’ $69,000.” Yet despite that advantage, and the fact that his campaign managed to get a sham candidate, Olivia Cortes, on the ballot, Pearce may still lose.
Pearces opponents challenged Cortes candidacy in court and Maricopa County Judge Edward Burke wrote in his ruling that that Cortes was recruited by Pearce allies “to siphon Hispanic votes from Lewis to advance Pearces recall-election bid.” Nevertheless, Burke ruled that Cortes could stay on the ballot, because “he could find no wrongdoing by Cortes herself.” According to the ABC-15 poll, Cortes is still polling at about 2.5 percent, which in an election this close could mean the difference between Pearce keeping or losing his seat. In one last desperate attempt to swing the election in Pearces favor, his allies are behind a misleading robocall in an effort to manipulate voters into casting a ballot for Cortes.
via Architect of Arizonas Anti-Immigration Law May Lose His Seat | Mother Jones.