The race for Arizona governor has created an odd mix of arguments in a state where recent gubernatorial contests were dominated by divisive issues like immigration. The shift away from hardline rhetoric and toward more nuanced positions marks an effort by both candidates to negate their opponents' key points as they court the growing bloc of independent voters in Arizona.

The recent response by the Fred DuVal campaign to an advertisement featuring the son of a businessman killed by terrorists in New York reinforces the fact that DuVal is unprepared and unqualified to be governor of Arizona.

Predictions from Arizona’s politicos on the outcome of the hotly-contested statewide and congressional races are all over the map, with very little agreement on either side of the aisle how the competitive races will turn out.

This week's most outstanding quips, gibes and utterances from Arizona's political scene.

Following several days of fierce Republican criticism over his opposition to laws requiring parental consent for minors who are seeking abortions, Democratic gubernatorial nominee Fred DuVal said he wouldn’t attempt to change those laws if he’s elected governor.

Like Gov. Jan Brewer in 2009, the winner of the gubernatorial race between Republican Doug Ducey and Democrat Fred DuVal will find himself in the unenviable position of trying to erase a massive budget deficit. Legislative fiscal analysts say the state is expected to face a $520 million deficit for the current fiscal year and will be in a $1 billion hole in fiscal year 2016, which begins next July 1.

An independent expenditure group that supports Republican gubernatorial candidate Doug Ducey accused rival Fred DuVal of helping a group of Puerto Rican terrorists get clemency from the Clinton administration, despite a lack of evidence that the Democratic nominee had any role in the controversy.

Fred DuVal and Doug Ducey finally found something on which they agree.

Neither wants to divulge whether they ever inhaled.

In their final debate before the Nov. 4 general election, Republican Doug Ducey and Democrat Fred DuVal grappled with how they would solve the billion-dollar deficit they’ll inherit as Arizona’s next governor, with neither candidate giving much in the way of firm proposals.

Republican Doug Ducey and Democrat Fred DuVal are set to face off for the fifth and final time as each tries to convince voters to elect them as the next Arizona governor.