Posted on 01/09/2018 10:07:52 AM PST by Seizethecarp
Republican Joe Arpaio, a close ally of President Trump and former sheriff known for his provocative approach to combatting illegal immigration, is running for Senate in Arizona.
The 85-year-old Arpaio could shake up the late August Republican primary in a critical open-seat race to replace retiring Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz. Trump pardoned Arpaio last summer, sparing the former sheriff jail time after he was convicted of ignoring a federal court order in a racial-profiling case.
The polarizing yet iconic former Maricopa County sheriff, beloved by many conservatives for his hawkish immigration policies, presents an alternative to the unimpressive Kelli Ward and a potential obstacle to Rep. Martha McSally. She is expected to launch within days and is widely viewed as the Republicans’ strongest general election candidate.
In a telephone interview with the Washington Examiner, Arpaio shrugged off concerns about his age, dismissed Republican insiders’ anxiety that his poor reputation with nonwhite voters would put the seat in play for the Democrats in the midterm, and discussed plans to work with Trump on behalf of Arizona.
“My mother and father came here from Italy, legally of course. I have a soft spot for the Mexican community having lived there,” he said. “I’m not going to get into my personal life, but I will say we have four grandkids and some have a different ethnic and racial background. I don’t say that. I don’t use my grandkids. So, I have a soft spot, but still, I’m going to do my job. You have to do it.”
Even if Arpaio loses the primary to McSally, he would have had seven months to push her to the right and define GOP messaging on a host of issues — and not just in Arizona.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonexaminer.com ...
That is the plan. Arpaio cannot live without attention. If he had stepped down we would have a Republican Sheriff in Maricopa County. But we have a liberal who has undone all of Arpaio’s policies. Good job there, Joe.
Arpaio needs to spend his time stumping for Kelli Ward.
The article calls her “unimpressive”.
Got it. Being a medical doctor is unimpressive compared to the Warthog driver grrrl. Please.
Other then memorializing Emil Franzi on the House floor, I can’t figure out anything useful that McSally’s done since she left the air force.
Not good.
Arizona could be the next Alabama, to lose an easy GOP Senate seat.
The men are all leftist nuts too.
There is no point in electing an 85 year old senator.
DOJ should be all over that by now but sessions is weak. I don’t think the other guy is anti-American, editor. I know you are very proud American but we go with what votes are counted until the Department of Justice does something. I agree with you we need to make our voices louder about the issue.
To paraphrase someone, McSally is just McCain with better piloting skills.
p
Show me a woman that doesn’t become a big government RINO the minute she arrives in DC. (women’s issues, ha)
We need more Trumps elected.
Vote Arpaio.
Maybe Arpaio should move to Salt Lake City and run for Senate there.
That's exactly what I was going to say. Relax and put your feet up Joe.
This is a really bad idea.
Maybe Trump can talk some sense into him, this will almost guarantee giving AZ to the Dems.
Total idiot move. Must be stopped.
Please don’t, Joe!
Yeah. He will be what, 92 years old, at the end of his 1st term. What could go wrong? I think there are too many very old people in the Senate as it is.
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The “other guy” is a typical democrap destroyer.
Donna, you don’t know Kelli Ward and Arpaio will NEVER win. There are women who stay conservative. I vouch for her. She WILL stay Conservative. I will make sure of that.
This is great news! I trust he wins, serves one term but grooms his replacement during that time. We need lots of Joe Arpaio disciples in Washington!
JoMa
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