PHOENIX -- Democratic Attorney General Terry Goddard on Friday formally became a candidate for Arizona governor, but he wasn't talking publicly about his changed status.
Goddard, who so far is unopposed for the Democratic nomination, filed official papers changing his exploratory committee to a campaign committee on Friday.
But there was no news conference to mark Goddard officially entering the race, and a campaign aide said he was not available to answer questions about dropping his exploratory status, the state's budget crisis or other topics.
In a release sent out by Goddard's committee to announce the filing, he said, "I will be making an announcement in the weeks to come."
Goddard's decision to not comment publicly in person about his changed status, which had been expected this month, may be an attempt to net more news coverage later.
Rodd McLeod, the campaign aide, said Goddard was focused now on his current job. "He will have a campaign kickoff when we have a campaign kickoff," McLeod said.
Matt Benson, a spokesman for the Secretary of State's Office, confirmed that Goddard's filing officially made him a candidate.
McLeod said the changed status allows Goddard and his supporters to start collecting voter signatures on nominating petitions to qualify Goddard for the Aug. 24 primary ballot. Goddard's camp previously started collecting $5 contributions from voters to qualify his campaign for public funding and that effort continues, McLeod said.
Goddard said in a statement posted on his
campaign Web site that he is running for governor because he believes "in the spirit and potential of Arizona and its residents."
"I believe Arizonans, who share the ability to make much from very little, can build the Arizona we want even in economic hard times. We must create quality jobs, support strong public education and lay the foundation to be successful in the global economy," he added.
While Goddard appears to be a lock for the Democratic nomination, there is a contest for the Republican nomination.
Announced candidates include Gov. Jan Brewer, State Treasurer Dean Martin and Tucson attorney John Munger, a former member of the state Board of Regents and a former state Republican Party chairman. Also, Yavapai County business Owen "Buz" Mills has created an exploratory committee and loaned it $2 million.
Goddard, 62, a former Phoenix mayor, was elected attorney general in 2002 and re-elected in 2006. He previously ran unsuccessfully twice for governor, losing to Republican Fife Symington in a 1991 runoff and in the 1994 Democratic primary to businessman Eddie Basha, who then lost the general election to Symington.
Brewer was the elected secretary of state when she became governor a year ago with the resignation of Democrat Janet Napolitano, who became U.S. Homeland Security secretary.
A poll conducted Nov. 19-22 by Arizona State University found Goddard holding a sizable lead over Brewer. Under the possible general-election matchup, Goddard had support from 47 percent of the surveyed registered voters statewide while Brewer was favored by 28 percent. The rest said either they would vote for neither or didn't have an opinion.
The poll of 862 voters had a margin of error of 3.3 percentage points.
