The Pulse: Call it the Rose Mofford

By Daniel Scarpinato - daniel.scarpinato@azcapitoltimes.com

Published: January 15, 2010 at 4:51 pm

No, nobody would be discussing it if the governor was a man. And yes, there’s plenty of more important issues facing the state.

But that hasn’t stopped people from talking about Gov. Jan Brewer’s hairdo, on display this week during her State of the State address.

The modern, beehive-inspired twist was a departure from Brewer’s typical shoulder-level style - although her staff says it’s not the first time the governor has gone with the look. Still, more than one observer noticed a similarity to the signature hairdo of former Gov. Rose Mofford.

Forget what you’ve heard

Brewer really is a conservative. Really. Despite what you may have heard.

The governor’s campaign has launched a new Web site: janbrewerconservativerecord.com

Headed into a GOP primary, the site stresses Brewer’s conservative bona fides. The section called “Facts about Jan Brewer” includes a graphic stating “doing away with political correctness,” which shows a picture of a Christmas tree. Remember, Brewer takes credit for axing Janet Napolitano’s “holiday tree” talk.

The site also gives the governor props for “reducing the size of government,” “restoring traditional values in our youth,” and “protecting Second Amendment rights.”

Yet there was no mention of her vigorous push for a sales tax increase.

Whose line is it anyway?

There’s no mistaking the message of Brewer’s State of the State speech with the one Napolitano delivered in 2009.

But a few similar lines stuck out.

In her swan song, Napolitano told lawmakers they’d be remembered for what they did - not for how they budgeted. Brewer had a similar line, although with a different connotation: “We will be remembered less for what we gained, than what we gave.”

Another one: Napolitano told lawmakers, “Arizona is young and dynamic, and it is primed for success.” Brewer took a similar approach: “We are a young state. Arizona’s best days are still to come if we make the right decisions.”

Goddard’s new campaign manager

Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard has lined up a guy named Rodd McLeod to run his campaign for governor.

McLeod was the mastermind behind Gabrielle Giffords‘ uber-successful 2006 bid for Congress, in which she took down a well-known former TV anchor in the primary and trounced conservative state Rep. Randy Graf in the general.

The thought among Goddard folks is that McLeod’s knowledge of southern Arizona politics could come in handy, since Democrats rely on a big turnout in Tucson to win statewide.

- Daniel Scarpinato is editor of the “Yellow Sheet Report,” a subscription-based daily tip-sheet covering Arizona politics and the Legislature. Contact him at 602-889-7126 or daniel.scarpinato@azcapitoltimes.com.
Follow him on Twitter: Scarpinato

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