Sep. 18--With Republican voters favoring conservatives over moderates in this month's primary election, Arizona Democrats believe their chances of retaking the state House in the general election -- or at least making significant gains -- have new life.

Democrats think they can make inroads with moderate independents by highlighting issues like education and avoiding touchy subjects like abortion, thus framing the Republicans as too conservative, even for voters in GOP-dominated Districts 26 and 30.

The Republicans' hold on the state House is slim: only a three-seat advantage out of 60. In the state Senate, it's also vulnerable -- Republicans have 17 of the chamber's 30 seats -- although Democrats generally see a takeover there as unlikely.

Gaining control of the House, something the Democrats have not had since the 1960s, rests on keeping seats they won in Republican-controlled districts in 2006 as well as winning some news ones.

Andrea Dalessandro is one of the candidates Democrats are pegging their hopes on. She's running in District 30, which covers much of East Side Tucson and stretches into Sierra Vista and Green Valley.

The New Jersey transplant -- she moved to Sahuarita in 2004 -- says she's a "balanced candidate," even comparing herself on some issues with Republicans in the area, like outgoing Senate President Tim Bee.

Dalessandro, a retired schoolteacher and accountant, is liberal on social issues, generally sees border control as a federal responsibility and is critical of school-choice measures.

But rather than those issues, what she's really stressing is her support for public education, and calling talk about Democrats raising taxes foolish, since state law requires a vote by a supermajority.

"I think my opponents are saying, 'We're going to improve the schools, improve security and cut every tax and protect the border,' and they're not going to be able to do all those things," Dalessandro says. "I'm not out there making false promises."

The strategy of using the more conservative philosophies of Republican primary winners to woo moderate voters is being repeated in neighboring District 26. In 2006, Democrats grabbed a Senate seat and one of the two House seats for the district, which covers the Foothills, Oro Valley and parts of Marana, by successfully framing Republicans in the general election as too far to the right.

Both districts are places where Democrats never dreamed of competing a few years ago.

State Rep.