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PHOENIX In the face of a continued swing toward independent voter registration, the states Republican party has a message for the faithful: Were not as big a bunch of losers as the Democrats.

In a newsletter Friday to party members, Chairman Robert Graham boasted the GOP voter registration lead over Democrats has grown in the last year. He said the advantage now stands at 5.5 percent, and were not letting up.

What Graham didnt mention is that his party actually lost 17,272 adherents. Meanwhile the number of Arizonans who dont want to be associated with any of the political parties increased by more than 43,000, and now stands at nearly 1.17 million almost 36 percent of all registered voters with there now being 53,000 more independents than Republicans.

So why are Republicans crowing?

Were not last, said GOP spokesman Tim Sifert, emphasizing the fact Democratic registrations are down 29,000 over the same period.

But Barbara Lubin, Siferts Democratic counterpart, insisted shes not concerned.

Well be fine, she said.

The numbers arent there, Lubin conceded. But what wins elections is how people vote, not how they register.

If thats the yardstick, last years election suggests Democrats are in trouble.

Every single statewide (office) went to the Republican candidate as opposed to the Democrat candidate, Sifert said.

Original post:
Democrats and Republicans lose more ground