PHOENIX - Democratic Attorney General Terry Goddard on Friday formally became a candidate for Arizona governor, but he wasn't talking publicly about it.
Goddard, who so far is unopposed for the Democratic nomination, filed official papers changing his exploratory committee to a campaign committee on Friday.
But there was no news conference to mark Goddard officially entering the race, and a campaign aide said he was not available to answer questions about dropping his exploratory status, the state's budget crisis or other topics.
In a release sent out by Goddard's committee to announce the filing, he said, "I will be making an announcement in the weeks to come."
Goddard's decision to not comment publicly in person about his changed status, which had been expected this month, may be an attempt to net more news coverage later.
Rodd McLeod, the campaign aide, said Goddard was focused now on his current job. "He will have a campaign kickoff when we have a campaign kickoff," McLeod said.
Matt Benson, a spokesman for the Secretary of State's Office, confirmed that Goddard's filing officially made him a candidate.
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