Republican Jerry Lewis today reported raising roughly $69,000 thus far in his campaign to unseat Senate President Russell Pearce.

There is a growing sentiment among Capitol observers that Pearce is in serious trouble in the recall election, a shift driven in no small part by the abrupt change in the Senate president’s campaign strategy.

Lewis’ campaign is vigorously fighting back allegations he “stole” donated items from homeless children, saying Pearce’s camp is morally unmoored.

With early balloting beginning today, the Pearce campaign went on the offensive against Lewis in a mailer targeting early voters that is expected to land in mailboxes alongside the ballots.

The Arizona Constitution, Article 7 section 12, charges the Legislature with the duty to “maintain the purity of elections.” Arizona case law has held that attempting to place a “diversionary candidate” on the ballot is illegal. A “diversionary candidate” is one who is in the race solely to divert votes from a particular candidate so as to give an advantage to another candidate. The recent lawsuit to have Olivia Cortes removed from the race was filed to honor the rule of law.

In his first attack mailer, Senate President Russell Pearce said his challenger, fellow Republican Jerry Lewis, is “embarrassed” to be an Arizonan.

Senate President Russell Pearce’s allies have said that recall challenger Jerry Lewis would be soundly defeated if he faced Pearce in a Republican primary election.

Jerry Lewis, who is challenging Senate President Russell Pearce in the Nov. 8 recall election, is hoping to capture early voters and will air TV ads targeting Mesa residents starting this week.

Senate President Russell Pearce’s first TV ads will cost his campaign $10,000 and will target FOX News viewers, as well as other cable stations.

The ads, set to air this week, are timed to reach early voters in the Nov. 8 recall election against him.

Pearce’s allies have seized on the controversy about donated school items that Lewis gave away when he was serving as a principal to show he’s not as saintly as depicted.