Pick xenophobe A or xenophobe B

Arizona Senator Tom O'Halleran is a tired old hack with a miserable "Needs Improvement" (update: his latest rating is an even worse "Champion of Big Government") score on spending issues from Americans for Prosperity who cast his vote for the latest red-ink-soaked state budget that threatens to put taxpayers on the hook to cover a looming $1.5 billion deficit. So what's his primary opponent Steve Pierce challenging him over?

Who will be meaner to brown people, of course. My wife being a registered Republican, I have mailers from both candidates touting their tough-tough-toughness on border issues. That's all these mailers address.

Too bad I support immigration -- even illegal immigration.

Yes, Pierce does -- oh yeah -- say he's a bit more conservative on spending. But then in the next breath he promises to throw more dollars at government schools.

Which leaves primary voters choosing between two candidates who are campaigning on their dislike of Mexicans.

The Democratic candidate, Pat Chancerelle, doesn't seem to hate Mexicans, and she probably wouldn't be any worse on spending than O'Halleran -- but she'll need to take time off from starring in the latest Mummy movie to compete for the office. And as a candidate she ... oh ... well ... I'm sure she's a very nice person.

I can't find a Libertarian candidate, or I'd park my vote there on general principle.

With so much at stake, isn't it nice to know what issues excite the candidates?