Flagstaff dentist and political newcomer Paul Gosar is leading incumbent Democrat Ann Kirkpatrick by 10 points in the battle over Arizona's 1st Congressional District.

If little things win elections, then Gosar’s campaign strategy may be right on target. The Flagstaff dentist has spent the past several months traveling across one of the most expansive and diverse congressional districts in the nation, sometimes making speeches, sometimes handing out campaign flyers, but mostly just shaking hands and assuring voters that he is one of them.

Kirkpatrick, who is counting on Democrats to vote for her despite her independent streak, has gone out of her way to appeal to independents and moderate Republicans who disagree with Gosar’s conservative platform.

While Democratic U.S. Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick and her opponent, Republican Paul Gosar, have brought in nearly the same amount of money over the past three months, Kirkpatrick has reached into her much deeper coffers, outspending Gosar nearly 4-to-1 in the same period.

Republican voters in Arizona’s 1st Congressional District chose a political newcomer over a couple of familiar faces, giving Flagstaff dentist Paul Gosar a chance to retake a seat the GOP lost in the Democratic surge in 2008.

Paul Gosar showed a commanding fundraising lead in the 1st Congressional District Republican primary, but 2008 nominee Sydney Hay said she has the cash to carry her past him to the nomination.