Posted on 01/15/2018 4:45:30 PM PST by Kaslin
The question of who will be the next senator from Arizona, replacing Jeff Flake, is looking less clear than ever this week. For quite a while now it had been looking like Dr. Kelli Ward might have a fairly clear shot at it. She’s the same Tea Party candidate who had been trying to replace John McCain and has quite a following in conservative circles. But now two new flies have dropped into the ointment. In only a week, Sheriff Joe Arpaio and Congresswoman Martha McSally have entered the fray. And the initial polling of this new alignment shows that the primary might be very tight, with Arpaio possibly tanking Ward’s chances. (AOL)
Ward’s pathway to victory was predicated on her ability to consolidate conservatives. Having to now compete for those voters with Arpaio, it’s McSally who looks to benefit from the breach on the right. An OH Predictive Insights poll conducted this week of 504 registered voters found McSally with 31 percent support to Arpaio’s 29 percent. Ward, despite having the longest tenure in the race, was in third with 25 percent. A November poll by the same firm pegged Ward at 42 percent support to McSally’s 34 percent in a two-person contest.
“Sheriff Joe’s entrance into the race probably assures Martha McSally the nomination,” says Bruce Ash, a Republican National Committeeman from Arizona. “It probably splits the vote on Kelli Ward. The primary is probably a little more certain for Martha with Sheriff Joe’s entry.”
Arizona runs their elections fairly late in the cycle, so a two point lead at this stage is basically meaningless. The filing deadline doesn’t even hit until May 30th, so even more people could toss their hats in. And the actual primary election won’t take place until August 28th. That’s an eternity in politics, so the candidates will have plenty of time to make their marks.
I do have to wonder what’s going on in Arizona, though. This is being portrayed as either a litmus test of “Trumpism” or a fight between the establishment and the most conservative ranks, depending who you listen to. Both Ward and Sheriff Joe are vocal Trump supporters, as well as hardliners on immigration, while McSally is being portrayed as being in line with the McConnell “establishment” wing of the party. (Oddly enough, despite the charges against her, McSally votes in line with the Trump agenda 96.7% of the time, well above both Flake and McCain.)
This split on the right doesn’t bode well for anyone and Arpaio entering the race really isn’t any reason to be cheering. Yes, I know that many of you who hold the same positions I do on questions of immigration and law enforcement love Sheriff Joe. But if we’re going to be consistent here, he’s a problematic candidate at best. I was just writing yesterday about how it’s preposterous to consider Chelsea Manning as a Senate candidate because of his convictions for very serious crimes, despite having his sentence commuted by Barack Obama. With that in mind, we should remember that Arpaio is only available to run for this office by virtue of having been pardoned by the President. Is that where we’re setting the bar?
And if you’re not such a big fan of Kelli Ward, should you really be writing off Martha McSally that quickly? We can throw the “establishment” flag all we like, but she’s an experienced legislator who, as I just noted, has an established conservative voting record. She’s a veteran with a more than twenty year record of service as an Air Force pilot. On top of that, she’s got one heck of a set of pipes if the Senate every needs someone to sing at formal events. Have you checked out her rendition of the National Anthem at a recent University of Arizona basketball game?
Rep. McSally Sings National Anthem at UofA Basketball Game
If that’s not impressive enough, she belted out “God Bless America” (an arguably even tougher song to master) at the Arts Express, A Hero’s Salute Concert 2015.
Congresswoman Martha McSally sings "God Bless America"
I think people in Alabama had gotten past the Luther/girlfriend issue and it was probably a nonstarter for the national media because the alleged girlfriend in question sued the blogger who initially broke the story and won the case.
She didn’t win it on the merits, but because the blogger wasn’t served or some such. Winning that suit nonetheless made anyone and everyone wary of going after Luther on that issue.
One of the liberal women’s magazine’s gave the woman a platform to crow about winning the lawsuit.
One interesting thing is that in her article she name dropped Gov. Bentley’s then current mistress and helped lend credence to the idea that Gov. Bentley WAS NOT having an affair with Rebecca Mason and said that she hoped Mason went after her ‘accusers’ legally.
Of course it ended up that Mason and Bentley were busted by his wife, and Luther’s long time “consultant” Jennifer ended up with a tad of egg on her face, but no one mentioned it.
The blogger who broke the Luther/GF story also ended up in jail for breaking the story of the alleged affair of former Gov. Riley’s son.
He’s also the first one to break the Bentley affair news.
He’s a liberal, but he’s pretty fearless when it comes to publishing. He ended up losing his home, and he and his wife were illegally evicted from an apartment they were renting and the police broke his wife’s arm rather severely.
It’s too bad he won’t come over to the good side. He’s almost good anyway.
Thanks for your kind words.
I totally agree with your thoughts about Arizona.
It’s kind of ridiculous for a man like Joe Arpaio to launch a senate campaign/career at age 85, bringing his legal trials and tribulations with him. Here’s hoping is good friend and hero, President Trump can somehow discourage his intentions.
I do like Kelli Ward and wish her all the best.
I was briefly impressed with the passion of Martha McSally, especially about funding the Military. However, it seems many fellow Free Republic members brand her as a RINO.
Finally, I hope President Trump is successful in recruiting a plethora of high quality candidates who genuinely believe in his MAGA agenda.
Thanks again and here’s praying for a GOP Super Majority next Fall.
Its not funny in the end, the Republican Party signs its death warrant with these stunts.
A lot of people are distracted by the talk radio, Fox News, Beltway “Conservative” websites etc. still drinking the Kool Aid but I stopped a long time ago.
I believe RINO's in our Party will sink his Senate bid!
bfl
First off, McCain did not start the Forrestal fire. Anyone who believes he did is a moron. Anyone who uncritically repeats that story is a moron.
That brings us to McSally. How many airframes did McSally lose? How many did "Crash" McCain lose?
How many times did McSally get captured? How many times did McCain? Isn't he a war hero because he was captured?
McSally has a well-documented and highly personal and politically incorrect aversion to Sharia Law. Hers is an attitude we need in the Senate. Opposition to political correctness is why Trump got elected.
That said, Arizona Republicans should follow the Buckley Rule in the primary: Vote for the most conservative candidate who can win.
That candidate is most likely McSally or Ward, not the 85-year-old former sheriff.
“Arpaio should stay out of it so Ward can get it.”
My observations is that politics requires a massive ego. People with massive self-focus don’t look at what might be better for their party. Obviously, what is good for them is awesome for their party.
Joe is too old to put up with the storm he is about to encounter. It would be a suicide mission for him to run at his age.
Well said....Joe needs to retire. McSally has been working with Flake on DACA.....she is a backstabbing RAT.
Well said....remember the Supreme Court
Didn’t notice that FR was down.
Thanks for the heads up.
Please copy and paste ANY comment where I have stated he did, and anyone that says I have is a moron.
That brings us back to McCain, who did pull wet starts and other more irresponsible stunts.
McSally MAY be barely acceptable, but does a disservice flanking Ward.
Sheriff Joe was hired to enter the race to get rid of Ward.
Oldest trick in the book
The only problem I have with Sheriff Joe is he’s way too old. He just needs to retire.
Just shine brightly with the grace and truth of Christ by the spirit in the love of God and they will flee because they hate the light. We are the victors.
Arise, shine; For your light has come! And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you. For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, And deep darkness the people; But the Lord arises over you, And His glory is seen upon you.Isaiah 60:1-2.
It's the good fight of faith and freedom. Let's remember our goal in the political/social realm is the restoration of our Free Constitutional Republic. Eyes on the prize, Baby.
God bless.
No more conservatives splitting the vote! When will we ever learn?
Bush League Republicans only care about preventing US (US citizens) from electing anyone who would side with US and the rule of law.
McSally is unacceptable if you want to restore the rule of law.
She’s fine if you want another Amnesty Senator.
I suspect that is correct.
So far, I am unimpressed with McSally.
Why would you be satisfied with more Grahams and Flakes now? More than ever, we have to weed these people out. They are killing the country. We’ve had sustained success electing better candidates than those laid out by the DC political class at all levels - from the White House down to the statehouse.
Do we assume you supported Kasich or Jeb in 2016?
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