Rasmussen tells us that that Gov. Jan Brewer has taken big lead over her GOP rivals, all of whom opposed the tax hike that passed with 64 percent of the vote:

Arizona Governor Jan Brewer, following her signing and passionate defense of the state’s new immigration law, now claims 45% of the vote in the state’s Republican Primary field. That’s a 19-point gain from a month ago and puts her well ahead of all her challengers.

A new Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of likely GOP Primary Voters in Arizona shows State Treasurer Dean Martin and businessman Buz Mills each attracting 18% support. Former state Republican Party Chairman John Munger trails with three percent (3%). Three percent (3%) prefer some other candidate, and 13% are undecided.

Just last month, Brewer held a modest lead with 26% of the primary vote, followed by Mills at 18%, Munger at 14% and Martin with 12%. Twenty-four percent (24%) were undecided.

Speaking of Rasmussen: Daily Kos has harsh words for the company:

You see, the thing about Rasmussen is that he cares only about setting the narrative that Democrats are doomed. And it's hard to build those narratives if you screw up polling actual elections.

Mike Joseph owns the new hot dog shop Bubby’s Chicago Style at 9190 N. Coachline Blvd. I typed the restaurant's name into Google and found a cached flier with the following printed on it:

Bubby’s Chicago Style is the realization of my lifelong dream of opening a hot dog joint. As a kid growing up in the northern suburbs of Chicago, I knew of every hot dog stand within shouting distance: Tommy Tucker, Tasty Pup, The Works, Poochie’s, Hot Dog Island, and Gene & Judes,’ to name a few. I knew Tasty Pup didn’t use Vienna hot dogs, but I could get there on foot in case I needed a fix. I’m not sure what the draw was for me, but I knew I craved the dogs.

No hype. No weirdness. Just a man with a dream to open a hot dog shop. I find that simple and comforting.

“We use a quality, all-beef hot dog, a steamed, poppy-seed bun and fresh, cold ingredients,” Joseph said this afternoon. I tried to derail this matter-of-factness with some meaningless journalism questions, but Joseph wanted nothing to do with it. His business, it seems, is serving hot dogs, not talking about them.

Bubby’s also serves hamburgers, sausages and hand-cut fries. A number of toppings hailing from the Windy City are available, and the prices are in the $4 to $8 range.

Click here for more information.

William Galston warns Democrats to stay away from immigration this year in The New Republic:

I believe in comprehensive immigration reform—so much so that I helped organize a bipartisan task force on the matter. (Here is the report.) I understand that most Americans have qualms about taking harshly punitive measures against illegal immigrants. And there is little doubt that a party seen as anti-immigrant will eventually lose the support of an increasingly diverse population, and especially of young people, as the fate of the post-Pete Wilson Republican Party in California demonstrates.

But I still have no idea why some leading Democrats, such as Chuck Schumer, think that pushing this issue right now will be helpful in November. If they believe that recent events in Arizona have created a public groundswell for a more liberal response, they’re just wrong.

If you didn't catch Mr. Conservative: Goldwater on Goldwater when it aired on HBO, here's your chance to see it—and meet CC Goldwater, granddaughter of the late Barry Goldwater, who produced and narrated the film.

There's a free screening at 3 p.m. on Friday, May 21, at MountainView Country Club Ballroom, 38759 S. Mountain View Blvd., in SaddleBrooke. Light refreshments will be served.

CC will sign copies of the Mr. Conservative DVD and her grandfather’s book, Conscience of a Conservative. You'll also have a chance to meet state Rep. Nancy Young Wright and state Senate candidate Cheryl Cage.

Donations to the Tri-Community Food Bank are encouraged.

Arizona Education Network (AEN) volunteers gathered last night to watch Proposition 100 election results at Ann-Eve Pedersen's house. Some of the volunteers had been up the night before placing Vote YES signs throughout the city and others up early election morning holding signs up in high traffic areas.

"It's overwhelming," Pedersen said. "This sends a huge message to the Legislature and holds them accountable."

The AEN president had set up two computers in the house for volunteers to track votes from the Arizona Secretary of State and Pima County Elections websites. As early ballots started to come in, several volunteers were also amazed as the numbers showed the special election proposition was most likely going to pass.

Volunteer Jen Darland said those early numbers did indeed send a message, and that voters finally realized education isn't a partisan issue.

"I also think that because of this economic crisis parents know that the only way to make sure our children have better lives and a better chance is through education, and that's why it's not a partisan issue. That's what's so great about our group. The people here tonight are from all of the school districts in Tucson and they are also Republicans, Democrats and Independents," Darland said.

Volunteer Paul Eckerstrom, who's worked with Pedersen and the AEN on past school override campaigns, said the success of the special election makes him "hopeful about human nature" and gets the message across that not everyone in the state feels that "government is bad or that education is bad."

Despite what Legislators have been doing with education funding, Eckerstrom said Prop 100's win last night sends a message to lawmakers that "we want schools for our kids, and police and fire protection, and don't assume that we don't."

Rasmussen delivers a new poll on how well Democrat Rodney Glassman stacks up against U.S. Sen. John McCain and his Republican challenger, J.D. Hayworth:

Both contenders for the Republican Senate nomination have widened their leads over Democrat Rodney Glassman in Arizona’s U.S. Senate race.

The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Likely Voters in Arizona shows incumbent Senator John McCain picking up 57% support to Glassman’s 28%. Nine percent (9%) favor some other candidate, and seven percent (7%) are undecided.

Former Congressman J.D. Hayworth, who is challenging McCain for the GOP nomination, earns 49% in a match-up with Glassman. Thirty-three percent (33%) prefer the Democrat. Nine percent (9%) of voters opt for some other candidate, and another nine percent (9%) are undecided.

Rasmussen provides new numbers in the match-up between U.S. Sen. John McCain and GOP primary opponent J.D. Hayworth:

Senator John McCain continues to lead Arizona’s hotly contested Republican Senate Primary contest but his level of support is stuck in a narrow range between 47% and 53%.

The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Likely Republican Primary Voters in Arizona finds McCain with 52% of the vote to challenger J.D. Hayworth’s 40%. Two percent (2%) prefer some other candidate, and six percent (6%) are undecided.

Any incumbent who earns less 50% support is considered potentially vulnerable and McCain has been hovering around that mark all year. The 2008 Republican Presidential nominee cannot be comforted by the fact that his level of support in early primary polling is similar to the numbers for Arlen Specter. Specter, defeated by Joe Sestak, led in just about all early polling but could never get much above the 50% level of support. That provided Joe Sestak with a chance to defeat the 30-year veteran of the Senate yesterday.

That's a wider lead than McCain had the most recent Rasmussen survey but close in line with other surveys.

Read Rasmussen's take here. You'll also find details on Brewer's approval numbers, which have climbed to 85 percent among GOP primary voters, according to Rasmussen.

When you're considering the numbers, remember that Rasmussen showed support for Prop 100 at 53 percent. The sales-tax hike won with 64 percent of the vote yesterday, so Rasmussen's polling sample might not match up with who's actually voting.

Hey, Arizonans: You saved the state.

With 84.4 percent of the precincts reporting statewide, Prop 100 leads by a commanding margin:

Prop 100 Yes: 651,784 votes, 64 percent

Prop 100 No: 366,503, or 36 percent

Interesting note: Yes is ahead in every county, save Mohave County. Support was widespread.

Well, results from today's special election are not available yet. We'll be posting them as soon as we can.

The first results are scheduled to be released after 8 p.m. You can check them for yourself here.