Jan Brewer says there's no secret plan for her to win the race and resign over health issues to make Ken Bennett the governor.
Brewer, in an interview with Capitol Media Services, flatly denied blog postings by former U.S. Senate candidate John Dougherty that she is suffering from health problems and wants to stay in the race only long enough to win the election.
No one in the mainstream media -- including Capitol Media Services, Associated Press or The Arizona Republic -- had reported on or repeated Dougherty's unsourced posting, at least not until Brewer herself put out a statement Tuesday asserting her good health. But that did not stop Chuck Coughlin, her campaign adviser, from blaming Democratic gubernatorial hopeful Terry Goddard for trying to spread doubt about the governor's health.
His proof? That Goddard's campaign released a letter form his Dr. Mark Wallace late Tuesday saying he examined the candidate last month and found him to be "in general good health with no significant medical concerns.''
"They continue to try and go down this road which is not about the issues, not about governing,'' Coughlin said.
But he didn't stop at that: Coughlin said if the media is inquiring about Brewer's health -- an issue he said has nothing to do with the campaign -- then reporters should question Goddard about his sexual orientation.
"What I'm doing in my own blog and my own space is doing what the Goddard campaign was doing to the governor: raising stupid issues which I think is irrelevant to the campaign'' Coughlin told Capitol Media Services. He said Goddard's sexual orientation "is a stupid, irrelevant issue, just as the governor's health issue -- she's addressed it -- is equally irrelevant.''
Brewer, however, said Coughlin was acting on his own in raising questions about Goddard's personal life.
"You need to talk to him about that,'' the governor said. And Brewer said she believes Goddard's sexual orientation is "very irrelevant,'' as she believes is the whole dust-up over her health.
Goddard, who is married and has a child, has been the subject of rumors about his sexuality since he ran for governor in 1990.
"That was asked and answered 20 years ago,'' said campaign press aide Jeanine L'Ecuyer. And, she said, the answer is "no.''
And L'Ecuyer said actions by both Coughlin and Brewer belie the claim that she wants the race against Goddard to be about the issues.
"She won't debate,'' L'Ecuyer said.
"She runs from the media at every opportunity,'' L'Ecuyer continued. "And when someone speaks on her behalf, it's Chuck Coughlin who now is stooping to some of the lowest tactics I've ever seen and actively fabricating stories.''
Brewer, however, said she is sticking to the issues.
"I've tried to keep my campaign going on the subjects of the economy, jobs, education and border security,'' the governor said. "It seems to me that everybody else want to talk about everything else.''
L'Ecuyer said there was nothing political about Goddard's physical or the decision to release the information.
She said he gets an annual exam every year. And L'Ecuyer said the decision was made last month, after this year's annual visit, that he would release those records if anyone asked.
Those requests, she said, came Tuesday.
L'Ecuyer said nothing was available Tuesday because the doctor was out of town. She said the only medical condition she knows of involving Goddard is elevated cholesterol, though she said she does not know if he is taking medications for that.
Brewer said there is "absolutely not'' anything in what she is taking in medications or any treatments she is receiving that could result in her not completing four full years in office if voters choose her next month. The governor flatly denied she was undergoing any ongoing treatments, including radiation or chemotherapy.
And she said there is nothing going on in her life -- involving health or any other personal issue -- that would preclude her from staying in office until the end of 2014.
"I know when you run for governor you make a commitment,'' Brewer said.
"That's why I took it upon myself and told my staff I was going to the doctor and I was going to have everything that could possibly be done in an examination,'' she continued.
"Everything came back perfect, better than what I had even anticipated,'' Brewer said. "My cholesterol was perfect, my heart rate was perfect, my blood pressure was perfect.''
About the only medical condition Brewer had recently was a broken blood vessel in her hand around the time of the August primary. Staffers got her a sling, not they said because it was medically necessary but to keep people from trying to shake her hand.
Brewer at one time was a cigarette smoker, a habit she said she gave up years ago.
If she were to resign after that, the secretary of state would become governor. That is currently Republican Ken Bennett who is expected to defeat Democratic challenger Chris Deschene.
But if Brewer were to quit now, the job would go to the attorney general, as Bennett was appointed to his post and not in the line of succession. That would elevate Goddard, potentially giving him a leg-up in his gubernatorial campaign.
Dougherty, a former Phoenix New Times reporter, did not return phone calls seeking comment.
Hotcopone posted at 2:24 pm on Tue, Oct 12, 2010.
Sounds like Democratic antics all the way. Now they will ask for her medical records.
Why? We can't even get a birth certificate for our President let alone any of his school records.
Typical politics at play here.
Rich posted at 2:46 pm on Tue, Oct 12, 2010.
More like political antics than just Democratic antics. We don't get to see anything, the politicians have the right of privacy. But if we want a place to live, a job we have to give up the size of our jockey shorts. Doctor out of town or his bribe check hasn't cleared?
nybill38 posted at 2:59 pm on Tue, Oct 12, 2010.
I can't believe this paper is even running this story, I can believe the AZ republic running because it fits perfectly in with their agenda.
The souce of this is the New Times which should tell you everything that needs to be said right there...its BS
forkedlift1 posted at 5:32 pm on Tue, Oct 12, 2010.
Chuck Coughlin, the governor's mouthpiece, is so tangled up in his own lies, contradictions and slimy campaigning -- he's got a reputation for such -- he continues to reside in his political septic tank.....just keeps voluntarily getting deeper and deeper in the muck.
The real biggy was his blackmail attempt to Channel 5 News, before their investigative report was aired about the who's-who, including vested Chuck Coughlin, in the private prison industry and their dual roles with the governor.
Coughlin told Ch. 5 that if they aired their report, they would not receive any TV advertising from the Brewer campaign. In the public interest, the investigative report was of course aired, and I presume self-serving Coughlin carried through with his promise.
Additionally, Coughlin conveniently forgets (if it was New Times where the speculation about Brewer's health appeared) that Goddard, as a matter of principle, blasted New Times a while ago for its negative story about Brewer's son....strongly asserting that family members should be off limits in political campaigns.
It's abundantly evident that the Brewer campaign will never attain the integrity and ethics of Terry Goddard. NOTHING is beneath her campaign manager, Chuck Coughlin.
1_lstephen posted at 6:03 am on Wed, Oct 13, 2010.
Arizona is in tough shape economically. I don't agree in all of Jan Brewer's decisions; yet, I admire her stamina to remain firm and keep Arizona together throughout a struggling economy. I don't believe Governor Brewer initiated in any 'mud slinging' and 'antidotes' that degrade the character of Terry Goddard throughout her campaign. I believe Terry Goddard has done a great job destroying his credibility as a candidate for Governor. Jan Brewer has now, a proven record and the ability to operate a State Government and at the least, by her best, balance a State Budget. Yes, she often appears weary and stressed...'she has a lot of food on her plate.' However, given the issues of our State and day to day agenda's, Jan Brewer has held-out well; I don't believe everyday is a perfect day for her; yet, at the same time, I don't think anyone else could do a better job governing our beautiful State...but I'm still observing both candidates to make sure I decide on the right choice November 2cnd.
forkedlift1 posted at 10:33 am on Wed, Oct 13, 2010.
I would recommend paying close attention to Jan Brewer between now and the election, how and if she's able to address the issues without a script and without her spokespersons speaking for her.
Rich posted at 11:20 am on Wed, Oct 13, 2010.
Her debate performance reminds me of both my aunt and mother in law, when both were in the beginning stages of Alzheimer's. Her inability to go beyond scripts reinforces this impression. While I would hope that it isn't true, I would really like to be sure before I have to vote.