Clinton to campaign in Arizona days before election

Hillary Clinton will campaign in Arizona just days before the election, signaling that the Democratic candidate sees an opportunity to claim the state that has backed Republicans consistently for the past 20 years.

{mosads}The Clinton campaign announced Friday that the former secretary of State will stump in Phoenix on Wednesday to encourage residents to vote early.

The campaign’s press secretary, Brian Fallon, tweeted immediately after the announcement that he’s confident that the state is up for grabs.

“Arizona ain’t an indulgence,” Fallon wrote. “It’s a true battleground. Perhaps even more favorable-looking right now than some other places we’ve been on TV.”

Arizona ain’t an indulgence. It’s a true battleground. Perhaps even more favorable-looking right now than some other places we’ve been on TV

— Brian Fallon (@brianefallon) October 28, 2016

Clinton is currently averaging a 1.5-point lead over GOP nominee Donald Trump in recent polls out of the state, according to RealClearPolitics.

The campaign has dispatched some its most popular and high-profile surrogates to Arizona in recent weeks, including Michelle Obama and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.). And earlier this month, the campaign announced it would increase its investment in the state by $2 million. 

The last Democrat to win the state was President Bill Clinton in 1996, when he edged out former Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole (R-Kan.) by about 2 percentage points on his way to reelection.

Some credit the former president’s win in Arizona that year to third-party candidate Ross Perot siphoning votes from Dole. Perot claimed about 8 percent of the state’s vote.

This year, another third-party candidate, Libertarian Gary Johnson, is averaging 6.3 percent support in the state, according to RealClearPolitics.