For the first time in a generation, Democrats are getting serious about competing in one of the most reliably red states: Arizona.With most polls showing Hillary Clinton within several points of Donald Trump in the Grand Canyon State, Democrats are building out the first serious field operation in the statetocompete in 2016 and beyond.This week, the Clinton campaign announced that it would invest in hiring staff to campaign in the state.Though the Clinton campaign's concrete investment in Arizona is still unclear, a Democratic sourcefamiliar with Clinton's strategy in the state told Business Insider that there are no existing plans to air television ads. The majority of the campaign's resourceslikely somewhere in the "six figures"will likely be dedicated to helping build out the field program in the state, knocking on doors and collecting and updating outdated voter information.With Trump's deep unpopularity among the state's Latino and Hispanic population, Democrats recognized an opportunity in 2015 to take a different approach to campaigning in the state.Party executive director Sheila Healy said that Democrats decided to run an expandedfield operation in order to increase voter registration and turnout by making earlier, more frequent contact with potential voters, rather than rely primarily on television advertisements and last-minute voter contact.Rather than running separate field operations, around 130 campaign staffers are working in tandem for Clinton, Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick, who is challenging Sen. John McCain, and other down-ballot campaigns.That's a major shift from the2012 elections, when the partyhad 20% of the field staff they employ currently.Top Democratic campaign experts contendthat field organizing can'twin or lose a state on its own, but can move a few points along the margins, potentially eeking out an upset Clinton victory, and helping upgrade the state party's voter information file in the process."Were all really excited here,"Healy said. "Weve been building a program for the past year now because we believe and we know that Arizona is on the precipice of something huge and that a statewide win really is possible under these circumstances."Demographics are rapidly shifting in a manner which favors Democrats in future elections if the party continuesto win Latino and Hispanic populationsby wide margins,though perhaps not at a pace quick enough to turn the state blue.The Cook Political Report projected in 2015 that non-college educated white voters are expected to comprise 4% less of the electorate that they didin 2012, while Latino voters are projected to represent at least 1% morethan in 2012.Pew notes that Arizona has the fifth largest population of Hispanic voters of any state.Democrats have a notableadvantage: Arizona has been a reliably red state for so long that the state Republican party appears unprepared for a truly competitive race. A Politico article published in May noted that the state party at the time had just one field staffer.Despite favorable polls,Clinton campaign officials caution that Arizona is still a long shot. Romney handily won the state in 2012 with a 10-point margin over President Barack Obama.Republicans also occupy most top electedoffices, and the party has control of both legislative chambers.Many Republican state officials agree that a Democratic victory in the presidential and senate race in Arizona would be an uphill climb.Arizona GOP Communications Director Tim Sifert notedthat it has a large base of volunteers that are helping manthe party's 14 Arizona field offices. According to July Federal Election Commission filings, the state party reportedmore cash on hand than its Democratic counterpart,and isn't soliciting significant financial help from the Republican National Committee, a sign that party officials say projects confidence in its security."To me, it doesn't looklike a serious investment. Its just pennies," Sifert told Business Insider of Clinton's investment. "I think theyre just trying to go through the motions of making it look like Arizona could potentially be a swing state, and nobody here really sees it happening that way."Sifert also noted thatDemocrats touted changing demographics for the past several elections, butlost numerous times."They talked about thatin '08, they talk about it in 2010, and in 2012, and in 2014, and it just doesnt translate," Sifert said.Still, many Democrats see the opposition to Trump in the state as an opportunity to build for future races. Some Democratic strategist point outthat the state's voter file needs to be updated, and connecting with potential voters in the 2016 race couldlay the groundwork to defend against a midterm sweep in 2018 if Clintonwins the White House."Its really a long term game,"Healy said. "Its really smart that the Clinton campaign took advantage of this opportunity. We always struggle in midterm years, and this is a way to help prevent that from happening in a way that it did in 2014."SEE ALSO:Trump's plunge in polls has Republicans starting to panic about how it could affect others on ballotJoin the conversation about this storyNOW WATCH: Watch the RNC audience boo Ted Cruz for not endorsing Trump
Click here to read full news..
