Paul Babeu, who is facing charges that
he threatened to have his former partner, Mexican national Jose
Orozco, deported, has raised nearly $14,000 online since the story
broke, POLITICO.com reported.
The 43-year-old Babeu, the sheriff of
Pinal County, Arizona and a GOP candidate for Congress, denied the
charges during a press conference on Saturday, but acknowledged he's
gay.
Babeu's Congressional campaign raised
nearly $14,000 in the six days since the Phoenix New Times
first broke the story and none of the sheriff's estimated 10,000
donors have asked for a refund.
“We're getting lots of support, new
and old,” Babeu adviser Chris DeRose told POLITICO. “Paul's
headlined two events since then, one in Prescott and [another] in
Yuma, and gotten an enthusiastic response at both.”
However, others interviewed for the
story said the charges are explosive enough to derail Babeu's
campaign.
“Being gay and dating a Mexican who
may or may not be legal is a double whammy in the district he's
running in for Congress,” said political observer Steve Clawson.
“I'm not sure what will hurt him worse.”
“Keep in mind the western part of the
district, Mohave County, is currently represent by Congressman Trent
Franks, so that gives you an idea of how conservative it is,” he
added.
Franks last year said he would support
impeaching President Barack Obama over his decision to no longer
defend in court the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), which bans
federal agencies from recognizing the legal marriages of gay and
lesbian couples.
In contrast, Babeu
earlier this week endorsed gay marriage.