Trump stays out of Arizona's ugly and costly GOP fight

[left-of-center2012]

Source: The Hill

President Trump's decision to remain on the sidelines has caused a protracted and costly Republican primary fight in Arizona, where the three candidates are heavily playing up their Trump bona fides despite no endorsement in sight.

All three candidates – establishment favorite Rep. Martha McSally (R-Ariz.), her main GOP rival Kelli Ward, and outside shot former Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio – have personal connections to Trump, a reason political observers believe have led him to sit this primary out.

The race for the seat being vacated by departing Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) is critical for Republican hopes to retain its narrow 1-seat majority in the Senate. It is currently seen as a "toss-up" by The Cook Political Report, in a state where Democrats haven’t won a Senate race since 1988, and that Trump won by less than 4 points in 2016.

The absence of an endorsement is leading to a surge in spending in support of the two main Republican candidates. Outside groups have already spent more than $7 million. The biggest spender has been Defend Arizona, a super PAC backing McSally, which has spent about $3.8 million and is currently up on the air with ads attacking Ward – and pushing back on anti-McSally ads from Democratic groups.

Read more: http://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/402426-trump-stays-out-of-arizona-gop-primary-leading-to-ugly-and-costly-fight

[DesertRat]

1. We have a good chance to elect a Democrat, Kyrsten Sinema

https://kyrstensinema.com/meet-kyrsten/

[axm]

4. AZ Dem here

and I'll be doing whatever I can to get Sinema elected!

[marybourg]

6. +1

[DesertRat]

13. Same here!

[paleotn]

2. Good. Blow huge amounts of money in the primaries....

And maul each other to a bloody pulp before the general.

[pazzyanne]

3. Joe Arpaio -

[axm]

5. No Arpaio ads

GOP SuperPACs are running nonstop ads pro and against Ward and McSally. Haven't seen a single ad for Arpaio or mentioning Arpaio.

He's toast.

[pazzyanne]

8. From a recent post from DU - left-of-center - Sat Aug 18, 2018, 08:12 PM left-of-center2012 (12,236

"All three candidates – establishment favorite Rep. Martha McSally (R-Ariz.), her main GOP rival Kelli Ward, and outside shot former Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio – have personal connections to Trump, a reason political observers believe have led him (tRump) to sit this primary out."

[Astraea]

7. McSally makes me puke

[RockRaven]

9. Dotard doesn't know anything about them except that they like him -- which makes it hard to choose

He really is that ignorant and shallow. He likes people who like him. That is the entire basis of at least half of his endorsements.

But they all like him, so he doesn't know what to do. It's easier when one likes him and the others don't.

[Renew Deal]

10. Trump likes to wait and see who is winning in the polls

Then he endorses the poll leader and takes credit for them winning.

[not fooled]

11. Ding! Ding! Ding!

We have a winner.

Plus, red don's too chickensh*t to pick one of them when they all kiss his ass.

[DesertRat]

14. Exactly right. nt

[JonLP24]

12. I voted for Deedra Abboud as well as donated to her campaign

Proud to do it. I often don't donate.