Kelli Ward at Yuma Primary Rally for Senate: National Reciprocity and Hearing Protection Act

Gun Watch ^ | 29 August, 2018 | Dean Weingarten

[marktwain]

Dr. Kelli Ward had a campaign appearance in Yuma on Saturday night, the 25th of August, for the Republican primary for the Senate. Yuma was the last stop at the end of a whirlwind bus tour around the state.

I was able to attend and ask Dr. Ward a question about gun issues beyond the usual "I support the Second Amendment" boilerplate.

I arrived before 6 p.m. I ran into many of the local political activists. It was clear Dr. Ward was getting much more attention than she had in 2016. I had attended a similar rally in 2016, and the attendance was only about a quarter of what was at this rally.

There was significant media presence. I had a talk with a reporter from Japan who works out of New York City.  We traded cards.

Ward has developed strongly as a candidate in two years. Her manner was polished. She did not make any obvious mistakes. She had a strong command of the  issues.  She was able to bring the crowd to its feet in standing ovations.

The stop reminded me of what I have seen of Donald Trump rallies, in miniature. The enthusiasm of the crowd was high, and contagious.

The difference from 2016 was the enormous amount of media ads in opposition to Dr. Ward. It is the worst case of taking words out of context and creating a false image that I have seen in Arizona. All legal under the First Amendment, which I explained to the Japanese reporter.

The contrast of upbeat, enthusiastic campaign, to the negative radio ads that bombarded me from the car radio was startling. Will Dr. Ward be able to survive the combination of attacks by the McCain machine, the McConnell establishment, and dominant media bias?  If she does, it will show how much the media has lost its ability to shape the narrative.

Near the end of the stop, I asked Dr. Ward if she supported national carry reciprocity, and if she supported the Hearing Protection Act (HPA).

She knew what I was talking about, a plus for a Senate candidate.

She said that she supported both bills.

She said that a person should be able to exercise their Second Amendment rights anywhere in the country, which is why she supported national reciprocity.

She reminded me she had authored a bill to decriminalize suppressors in the Arizona Senate before the HPA was introduced into the U.S. Senate.

The bill was introduced in 2015. It would have removed Arizona bans on suppressors, short barreled rifles and shotguns, and nun-chucks. It was a common sense reform of the Arizona weapon laws.

Dr. Ward is the most Second Amendment friendly person in the race for the Senate. She would represent Second Amendment supporters far better than former Senator McCain or Senator Flake.

Given that, Yuma is a conservative, military and agriculture town. 

The Republicans that are supporting other candidates claim Dr. Ward is less likely to beat the Democrat candidate in the November election. That remains to be seen. If she had raised a few million dollars to fight this campaign, she would likely be the Senate candidate. Keeping your political independence from the Washington king makers has a price.

If Dr. Ward is able to gain the Republican candidate spot, she will show a level of grass roots support that makes it plausible for her to beat the Democrat in November.

©2018 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice and link are included.

Gun Watch

[DLfromthedesert]

Trump did not endorse in this race. He had kind words for all three.

[TheBullWat]

I will too. All R candidates were forced to embrace and publicly praise Trump enough times that it’s hard to back down much now or quickly. Trump won this election simply from that. And that places her head and shoulders above Flake or McLame.

[Mr Rogers]

“McSally is not to the Left of Flake and she would sure be a whole lot better than Sinema.”

Yes she is! Far to the left of Flake! The ACU has Flake at a lifetime rating of 92%, McSally at 67%.

http://acuratings.conservative.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2017/04/2016_ACU_ROC_Apr7_330pm_web.pdf

[TheBullWat]

There’s lots of phony Rs on second wives in favor of open borders in AZ. The boys in Scottsdale and Downtown Phx have lots of power connections and can raise lots of money to spread the lies. They can run ticket splitters like Arpaio and control the media enough to the point where they ignore that there were no debates until it is too late.

But Ward forced them to spend $7 million to try to overcome her, so she is a force now regardless of the outcome.

[Mr Rogers]

I agree. I’ll laugh my butt off if Ward wins, but I also predict many of the GOP will turn on her and vote democrat this fall if she does! Like McCain, they hate us far more than they dislike Democrats!

[taildragger]

" Like McCain, they hate us far more than they dislike Democrats!"

Ouch, the better half is thinking it might be a nice place to retire, oh well, give up on that idea...

[SharpRightTurn]

“But Ward forced them to spend $7 million to try to overcome her, so she is a force now regardless of the outcome.”

BTTT.

[Reno89519]

The truth is not slander. She was stupid enough to get involved in the contrail controversy,Defended it actually, then dissembled about it when it became purely embarrassing to me, she’s a total idiot.

[Reno89519]

Pence has now as of a few minutes ago, congratulating McSally on her win.

[Greenpees]

I’m assuming you know that she answered the questions of her constituents on this. Listened to them, and didn’t call them crazy. That’s about the extent of it. Yet, you mock a true conservative, using MSM tactics.

[Mr Rogers]

“then dissembled about it when it became purely embarrassing”

Not true.

“In March, Ward had told The Republic she was responding to constituent concerns and only arranged a forum for them to ask questions to state environmental experts.

“I don’t really have any opinions about ‘chemtrails’ one way or the other,” Ward told The Republic at the time. “I think that environmental quality, though, is very important.”

Politico also paraphrased Ward as “contending the issue merely came up at a larger hearing about air, soil and water quality in her district” and that “several constituents asked her to convene the hearing with state environmental officials and then asked about chemtrails.”

That is from April, 2015.

https://www.azcentral.com/story/azdc/2015/04/18/kelli-ward-i-dont-believe-in-chemtrails/25968215/