Where are you getting your information?
On the ground here, the uniform opinion, by people who have been involved in AZ politics for a long time, is that Sheriff Joe is a spoiler put in to prevent the election of Dr. Ward.
Speculation is that Joe got paid big to run. The GOP-e wants their lady McCain to stick us all in the ribs. Their greatest celebration would be us rising up to get Flake, and replacing him with someone even worse.
“Doc Contrail” is a slander.
That said, Ward’s comments about McCain have NOT helped her any. I voted for her, but I was very disappointed in her comments. It is not the sort of things one says if you wish to WIN in Arizona.
You need to be a good “politician” to win at this level of competition. To include sugar-coating things regardless of how you feel inside. The AZ media and the Cheap Labor Express won’t cut you ANY slack. You don’t need to hand them ammo...and show them your foot!