Dr. Kelli Ward is a former Arizona state senator who is running in the Republican primary against John McCain. She’s a strong Second Amendment supporter, and a political outsider to Washington, D.C. Her campaign is focusing on a number of issues, one being that it’s time for John McCain to leave office, and she’s contrasting herself with the Senator on the Second Amendment . . .
John McCain has been a reliable “I support the Second Amendment, but” Senator. He has supported bans on “assault weapons”. He supported severe restrictions on gun shows, which would have effectively destroyed the popular gun culture political and networking tool. He supported “universal background checks” designed as a step toward universal gun registration. Coincidentally, he recently backed off of the universal background check issue, as the primary nears. It’s a common tactic for politicians to move toward their base for the primary, then away from it for the general election.
Kelli Ward spent about three hours Saturday at a gun show that was being held in Yuma at the Civic Center where she was warmly received. Second Amendment supporters are one of her strongest constituencies and they haven’t been happy with McCain who’s been in office for nearly 30 years.
I briefly spoke with Dr. Ward at a meet and greet in Yuma last Friday. She was energetic, enthusiastic, and friendly. These are all great qualities in a candidate. I last saw John McCain close up about two years ago. He was also energetic and mentally sharp. At the time he was mentoring Jeff Flake during his senate race. McCain will be 80 years old in a couple of months.
The Republican base isn’t happy with John McCain, so an outsider like Dr. Ward has a chance. As in the presidential primary, there are multiple opponents who oppose the senior Senator, splitting the anti-McCain vote. A PPP poll shows the situation as of May 17:
McCain is polling at only 39% in the Republican primary field. He’s benefiting from having multiple opponents. Kelli Ward is at 26%, Alex Meluskey at 4%, Scott McBean at 3%, and Clair Van Steenwyk at 2%. 27% are undecided. McCain is very strong among moderates, leading Ward 60-10. But among ‘somewhat conservative’ voters he leads just 34-29, and with ‘very conservative’ ones he’s down 35-28. When you narrow the field down to just a choice between McCain and Ward, it’s a tie at 41%. Ward is polling this competitively at this point despite having only 41% name recognition.
If Dr. Ward consolidates opposition against McCain, she has a serious chance at getting the nomination. Name recognition is the biggest problem for her at this point. And the biggest problem for McCain is…name recognition. His name, record and policy positions are all too well known by conservatives and those who are angered by business as usual in Washington.
Donald Trump has changed electoral politics in the United States. It’s far from clear what will happen in the general election, but Trump’s coattails could be very effective for Dr. Ward, who shares most of his policy positions. The feud between John McCain and Donald Trump would seem to make any coattail effect for him much less likely.
©2016 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice is included.
Gun Watch
![By Larry Keane President Joe Biden traveled to New York City for a media event to try and show America he’s doing something about rampant crime. Instead, he blamed the Second Amendment and lawful gun owners, said nothing about holding criminals to account and repeated the same tired lies about the firearm industry he keeps at the ready – lies “fact-checked” as being false each time he’s previously recited them. It makes no difference to the president. He’s not even trying anymore. To President Biden and national gun control groups the problem is always the gun and the law-abiding members of the industry. It’s never the criminal. Blaming the ‘Resistance’ President Biden was joined by U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland, Democratic New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and Democratic New York City Mayor Eric Adams for a “Gun Violence Strategies Partnership” meeting to talk about how to solve the crime surge, particularly those involving firearms. Instead of real solutions, the focus devolved into blaming law-abiding gun owners and again pushing a gun control agenda. “Enough is enough,” President Biden said. “Because we know we can do things about this, but for the resistance, we’re getting from some sectors of the government and the Congress and the state legislatures, and the organizational structures out there.” That “resistance” the president spoke of is the American people. Over the past two years they’ve become fed up with police defunding policies and soft-on-crime prosecutors, like Manhattan’s Democratic District Attorney Alvin Bragg. They’ve invested in their own safety. The “resistance” is the 21 million lawful gun buyers in 2020, including more than 8.4 million first-time buyers, and the 18.5 million gun buyers in 2021, with more than 5.4 million first-timers. The ”resistance” has backstopped Congress from passing federal gun control that don’t address crime. It also stopped President Biden’s nominations of paid gun control lobbyist David Chipman to lead the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and banking activist Saule Omarova as Comptroller of the Currency because not even all U.S. Senate Democrats could support them. They would have turned those agencies into bludgeons to hammer the firearm industry to achieve a special interest, gun control agenda. Favorite Falsehoods The president turned his aim from lawful gun owners towards the firearm industry and repeated a lie he’s rehearsed several times before. “Imagine had we had a liabil… [sic] they’re the only industry in America that is exempted from being able to be sued by the public. Only one,” the president protested. “Why the gun manufacturers?… It’s got to end. They’ve got to be held responsible for the things they do that are irresponsible.” He repeated the claim for emphasis. “And I find that outrageous.” This is flatly false. The president knows by now, or his speechwriters do and they don’t bother with the facts. CNN, Politicfact and Washington Post have all checked President Biden on his remark, including after he said it in the White House Rose Garden. CNN cleanly rebuked it. “This is false. Gun manufacturers are not entirely exempt from being sued, nor are they only industry with some liability protections.” Politifact rated it “false.” Washington Post wasn’t kinder, saying, “Biden is wrong to claim the gun industry is totally immune.” The firearm industry has liability protections under the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (PLCAA), bipartisan legislation enacted under former President George W. Bush. The firearm industry cannot be held liable when unaffiliated third-parties, in this case criminals, misuse a legal, lawfully sold product. It’s fundamental tort law and is similar to an individual attempting to hold Ford and Budweiser responsible for drunk driving deaths. The law was passed in direct response to lawsuits filed against the industry by control groups and municipalities like the city of New York and the state of New York. These type of lawsuit continue to be filed, now even by foreign governments represented by the same gun control group, the Brady Center. Colonial-Era Error President Biden continued to ignore facts on the Second Amendment and its history. He even erred when speaking about the Revolution-era days and why the right to keep and bear arms was so sacrosanct. “When the amendment was passed, it didn’t say anybody could own a gun and any kind of gun and any kind of weapon,” President Biden remarked. “You couldn’t buy a cannon, and when – the – when this, uh, this amendment was passed.” It did, and does, say the right of the People “shall not be infringed.” Even The Washington Post was brutal in their assignment of “Four Pinocchio’s” to this statement. “Biden has already been fact-checked on this claim — and it’s been deemed false. We have no idea where he conjured up this notion about a ban on cannon ownership in the early days of the Republic, but he needs to stop making this claim.” In fact, the Constitution of early America – before the Bill of Rights, and Second Amendment, was even ratified – granted and encouraged “special waivers” to American merchants and sailors, “allowing private individuals to act as pirates on behalf of the United States against countries engaged in war with it.” Americans given waivers and who owned warships obviously also obtained cannons for use in battle. In fact, it is still perfectly legal to buy a cannon today. It is the presidents’ fundamental misunderstanding and blatant lying about the Second Amendment that informs his gun control agenda and misguided approach to solving the crime problem. Millions of law-abiding Americans took ownership of their Second Amendment rights to protect themselves, understanding the president won’t. Instead of mangling the meaning of the right and pushing for more gun control on law-abiding Americans, the president should keep it simple. Take on the criminals and punish them for breaking the law.](https://cdn0.thetruthaboutguns.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/download-26-218x150.jpeg "Harris is a Human Disinformation Campaign When It Comes to Guns")
Time for McCain to GTFO.
I sometimes wish I lived in Arizona. I wouldn’t care who ran against McCain. His retirement day is long overdue.
You can donate to the good Dr. as I did. I too do not live in AZ, but he has got to go! He is overdue!
Dr Ward has had my vote since she announced she was running. Judging by the attack ads I’ve seen, someone is worried about his DC gravy train.
McCain’s productive years ended in the late 90’s. Since then he’s turned into a blind supporter of anything in his state, regardless of hard facts or how that fits into what’s best for the nation as a whole (A-10 debate, for example).
I still call AZ home, and wish Kelli Ward the best in her campaign.
He can always go back to crashing planes for the Navy. Only 2 more to make Ace.
Wouldn’t be surprised if he loses the primary then runs as a Dem or Independent just for spite against his constituents.
Yeah get rid of McCain. Just another RINO. Like the azzwhole Mark Kirk running in Illinois(except WE got no choice). Eck…good luck Dr. Ward.
Who’s running against Feinstein?
DiFi is not up for reelection this year. Boxer is stepping down. Now we have to worry about Kamala Harris getting into office. In case you didn’t know, she is the reason our gun rights are being stalled in the courts. If you live in California DO NOT vote for her.
Term limits. No one should be able to spend 30 years in Congress.
Of course we shouldn’t need term limits at all, but that’s another story. And we should also return to the original constitutional republic system of state-appointed senators and popularly elected representatives…but that’s also another kettle of fish.
Limits terms this way: you can only be in office for as many years as you’ve worked at any profession but lawyer. Want to sit in the Senate for four terms? First you have to work a real job for twenty-four years.
Being a lawyer and a politician smells like a conflict of interest.
When I asked via email Stephen Sabastian (Her communications director. If any TTAG staff wants it, just reply with a contact method and I can forward the conversation to you and/or give you his email so you can ask yourself) said she supported introducing legislation to repeal the NFA. She already introduced legislation to repeal several NFA like laws in the Arizona state legislature.
Would prefer to hear her say that from her own mouth though her past record makes it very believable. I’ve donated to her and hope to see McCain knocked out.
I’m voting for her, but then, I’de vote for a potato if it ran against McCain and didn’t have a “D” after it’s name. Only pro-gun potatoes allowed.
Sigh. Some of you folks are so predictable. Donate and vote for the next politician-wannabe. Rinse and repeat. Meet the new boss, same as the old boss.
Blow the system up.
“Blow the system up.”
That’s why I’m voting Trump…
🙂
Exactly ?
Yeah right. Some POS New York insider wheeler dealer casino baron.
Or whoever the demtards end up nominating (I still say will NOT be Hellery).
This is going to end well.
So tired of arrogant, self important A-holes on both sides of the isle. Hillary thinks she should not be only elected but to be crowned Queen. Mitt Romney, the nerve to try to rally alternates to run as an independent. Hey Mittens, just because you blew your election chance by being a wuss, it doesn’t give you the right to try to get Hilary the election by default. You and RHINO McCain, are both yesterday news, get over it. You are the reason why Trump won the primary. Get used to it voters can’t trust your type anymore
The Sarah Palin VP choice. Didn’t work for McCain, was a disaster for Trump to even have her speak. I like and have great respect for McCain but politics as usual will not be tolerated anymore.
McCain is another in the long line of warmongering career politicians who find themselves fabulously wealthy after a career in “public service”. A true MIC puppet. Fuck him. And the next one.
Don’t forget that McStain was Ted Kennedy’s good friend.
Congress Woman Ellmers of North Carolina became the first GOP member of congress to lose her seat in the 2016 election when she lost in the primary last night. She is also the first congress person to receive an endorsement by Donald Trump. Trump’s coattails might not be so great.
Dump McCain.
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