Wil Cardon, an investor from Mesa, Ariz., who is U.S. Rep. Jeff Flake’s main opponent for the GOP Senate nomination in Arizona, refused to say whether he thinks President Obama is eligible to be president, reports the Arizona Republic.
“I think people who run for office — if there are certain qualifications to run for office, they ought to prove that they meet those qualifications,” Cardon said.
When asked if he felt Obama met those qualifications, Cardon hedged. “I haven’t been in the middle of that inspection,” Cardon said. “I’m running my own race right now, not worrying about Obama’s race.”
Cardon’s comments are not entirely out of step with other Arizona Republicans, who haven’t shied from birtherism. In 2011, the state Legislature passed a “birther” bill requiring U.S. presidential candidates to submit proof of citizenship in order to appear on the state ballot. Gov. Jan Brewer vetoed the bill. Cardon’s comments set him apart from Flake, who said earlier this month that he believes Obama is a “citizen” and the “duly elected” president.
