More Election News

• MI-15: Dingell Counting on a 30th Win
• PA: Sestak Gains on Toomey as Candidates Prepare for First Debate
• MA: Patrick Looks to Hold On in Competitive Race
• PA-4: Altmire Holds Own Despite Anti-Democratic Tide in District
• TX: At Debate, Three Point Fingers at Absent Perry
• NV: Early Vote a Bad Omen for Reid
• IL: Debate Focuses on Character
• MA-4: Barney Frank Gives $200K to His Campaign
• MI: Snyder Camp to Report It Has $2M in Cash to Finish Race
• RI: Candidates Focus on Jobs, Economy
• PA-7: Lentz Admits His Role in Helping Third Candidate
• AK: Three-Way Race Keeps Surprises Coming
• CA-45: Bitter Rivals Exchange Economic Views in Terse Face-Off

PHOENIX, Ariz. -- Arizona Republican Senators John McCain and Jon Kyl joined forces to air a pair of joint attack ads on behalf of two home state Republicans running to unseat House Democrats in the southern part of the state.

The Arizona Senators cut the ads for Marine combat veteran Jesse Kelly, who is running against Representative Gabrielle Giffords in Arizona's 8th District, and physicist Ruth McClung who is facing Representative Raul Grijalva in the state's 7th District.

In both ads, McCain and Kyl appear standing next to each other in front of a black backdrop.

"While Arizona families are struggling, Gabrielle Giffords voted for the failed, liberal Pelosi-Obama agenda," McCain says in the Kelly ad, before Kyl adds, "She voted for the failed stimulus package and Obama-care, and received a grade of ‘F' from the National Taxpayers Union for supporting so much spending and debt."

In the McClung ad, McCain opens by saying, "Arizonans are struggling, yet Raul Grijalva voted for the failed stimulus, Obama-care, and tax increases that devastated our state and nation." Kyl then chimes in by referencing Arizona's controversial immigration law. "Grijalva even led the call for a boycott against our own state that cost Arizona jobs and millions of dollars, hurting us all."

Prof. William Keating, who teaches a class on Arizona politics at Arizona State University, told RealClearPolitics that Grijalva's biggest vulnerability is likely his call for a boycott of his own state in protest of the law that gives police the power to detain anyone suspected of being an illegal immigrant.

"Pretty quickly after boycotts started popping up, he endorsed it," Keating said. "I think he may be regretting it now. In normal circumstances, I think he would have a greater advantage over his opponent than Giffords has over her opponent because Grijalva has more seniority."

RealClearPolitics rates the race in the 7th District as "leans Democrat" and the 8th District race as a "Toss Up."

Grijalva was first elected to Congress in 2002 and has won reelection three times by more than 25 percent of the vote.

Giffords first won her 8th District seat as part of the Democratic wave in 2006 and won reelection by a 15 percent margin in 2008.

Both the 8th and 7th Districts border Mexico, with the 8th District encompassing the southeast portion of Arizona and the 7th located in the southwest part of the state.

McCain is also up for reelection this year, but after holding off a primary challenge from former Representative J.D. Hayworth, his seat is not in jeopardy, as he enjoys a comfortable lead over Democrat Rodney Glassman.

"I don't think McCain's endorsement will hurt either Republican, but I don't think it's going to give them huge help," Keating added. "There has always been some uneasiness about him. He has been perceived as a carpetbagger, which you don't hear much anymore, but also as a moderate in working for campaign finance reform and comprehensive immigration reform."