Partial Privatization for Younger Americans

From Eric Dondero:

Physicist and Republican candidate for Congress in southwestern Arizona Ruth McClung is gaining ground on incumbent Democrat Raul Grijalva. The latest poll shows the race within the margin of error, with Grijalva at 40% to McClung's 38%.

Grijalva is the Congressman who famously called for a Boycott of Arizona, over Governor Jan Brewer's efforts to stop illegal immigration.

McClung, a hardline Tea Partyer, has taken bold stances in favor of zero-based budgeting, tax cuts across the board, and free market-based health care solutions.

From the AZ Daily Star Aug. 9:

The 28-year-old McClung, who is a rocket scientist dealing with guidance navigation, said she decided to run in 2009 when she became increasingly frustrated with what she calls Washington's "out-of-control spending." McClung, who considers herself a member of the tea-party movement, said she wouldn't have supported the stimulus package.

She said reining in spending would be her No. 1 priority.

Additionally, the AZ Daily Star today "Campaign climate toughest ever for Grijalva":

She also wants to move many spending decisions to local governments, which have a better idea what their communities need.

The physicist works on navigation for a Defense Department contractor, and has adopted the campaign slogan "Maybe it does take a rocket scientist."

She wants to move toward privatizing Social Security for younger generations, but first put a "lockbox" on the program to protect those receiving benefits now or in the next few years.

This just breaking from Politico:

Party operatives say there's increasing concern that the Arizona Democrat's reelection bid... after Grijalva — responding to enactment of a tough new immigration law — called for an economic boycott of his own state amid a housing crisis and record unemployment.

As they work to buttress their majority against a coming Republican storm, Democrats can ill afford to spend time or resources defending incumbents in seats where they should have a clear advantage. But the Grijalva seat potentially being in play is a sign of the increasingly expanding Republican playing field for the midterm elections.

One Democratic source familiar with the Congressional Hispanic Caucus said there are "whispers" about the Grijalva-McClung matchup "being a sleeper race."

The District, which includes Yuma, has a two-to-one Democrat registration advantage.