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They're the 50-yard line seats of the Democratic National Convention, and Arizona's delegates have got 'em.

Grand Canyon Democrats have landed in a primo spot at this week's festivities in Denver — just maybe because they're from the home state of Barack Obama's GOP rival, John McCain. Directly behind the Arizona delegation: the Obama family skybox and vice presidential candidate Joe Biden with his wife, Jill.

"You could literally stand up, turn around and shake hands with them," said Dana Kennedy, a Hillary Rodham Clinton delegate.

Among those who got such an opportunity are Phoenix-area delegates Ruben Gallego, an Iraq war veteran, and Kate Widland — who got engaged Monday on the convention floor as Ruben's fellow Arizonans helped him pop the question by holding signs that read "Marry me Kate."

Biden, the potential future vice president, took the time to personally congratulate the couple.

Downloaded

Pima County Supervisor Ray Carroll doesn't have an opponent in this year's primary or general election, but he's dropping more money on radio ad buys than any supervisor candidate actually in a contested race.

And the Republican's ads target the Democratic board members, two of whom — Sharon Bronson and Ramón Valadez — face primary challenges from other Democrats.

"All three incumbent Democrats voted not to filter porn in the library," Carroll says in one ad. "Please consider that when you're voting this year."

Carroll has frequently clashed with Bronson and Valadez, and he appears to be trying to give a boost to the incumbents' cash-strapped opponents, Donna Branch-Gilby and Robert Robuck.

"This is just an issue that I care very deeply about, and I think the public should know where I stand and where the Democrats stand," Carroll said. The move appears legal, according to election officials, since Carroll doesn't advocate for any one candidate.

And Carroll's more recent ad plays it a little safer. It features Tucson Weekly columnist Tom Danehy supporting Carroll's anti-porn position, but Danehy never mentions the Democrats.

"We just want to draw the line where it protects children," Danehy says, implying Democrats "want to draw it where it serves the pervs."

Bugged

It's a bad enough move for a Tucson Democrat to seem like he's not supporting union issues. It's even worse if it looks like he's lying about it.

Robuck, a candidate for supervisor, is under fire for a mailer he produced featuring a union logo, a small symbol indicating the piece was printed by a union printer.

Not only was the mailer not printed by a union printer, but it wasn't even printed in Arizona.

The bogus bug was caught by Tucson printer Walter Pearson of Wholesale Lithographers, who says when he saw it he was sure it wasn't a union print job because of the low level of quality.

Robuck says the whole thing was just a misunderstanding. The graphic artist thought the campaign was going to go with Pearson's shop and put the bug on the mailing. Then when the campaign realized the mailing company could handle the printing for less money, it went with that option and forgot to take off the bug. And Robuck said he was surprised to learn the print job was sent out of state.

"I'm a big believer in supporting local business," he said, rejecting the notion that he was intentionally misleading voters.

"I would never do anything underhanded like that," he said.

Pearson isn't buying it. He doesn't remember talking to anyone from the Robuck campaign about doing the job, and he's filed a complaint with the union, which could result in fines.

On StarNet: The Star has invited guest bloggers to report on the Democratic National Convention in Denver. Visit go.azstarnet.com/politicalblog for more. For information on candidates in next week's primary election, visit go.azstarnet.com/ 08candidates.