Reaction to Russell Pearce recall vote
An alternating round up left and right of reactions to Arizona’s rejection of Pearce.
Reaction to state Sen. Russell Pearce’s apparent defeat by political novice Jerry Lewis came swift and sure, with Pearce supporters lamenting the loss of a patriot and Lewis backers saying they had struck a blow for civility.
The following is a sampling from both camps as well as from other observers gathered by Arizona Republic reporters on election night.
Jerry Lewis, the apparent victor:
Saying his campaign took the high ground, Lewis told more than 300 cheering supporters that his victory brings “a fresh voice to Mesa and a civil tone to politics.
“We showed that civility is a sign of strength, not weakness,” he said from the back yard of a supporter’s west Mesa home where his campaign was conceived.
“We now have an opportunity to heal the divide in Mesa.”