The evening before President Donald Trump’s rally in Arizona, Sen. Jeff Flake (R-AZ) told reporters that he is not concerned about the potential for Trump to back one of the Republican primary challengers to Flake in his 2018 re-election bid.
“I don’t worry about it at all,” Flake told reporters in Arizona on Monday when asked about Trump’s criticism of him on Twitter, according to the Los Angeles Times.
In a tweet last week, Trump called Flake “toxic” and declared that the senator is “weak” on immigration issues and crime. The President applauded Republican state Sen. Kelli Ward for challenging Flake, an atypical move for a president.
Asked about Trump’s support for Ward, Flake said, “That’s not my realm. That’s somebody else’s. I just — I’m running my own campaign. It’s going well. And what the president does, that’s his prerogative,” per the LA Times.
Trump will hold a rally in Arizona Tuesday night, sparking speculation that he could bash Flake and support one of his primary challengers from the stage. Trump’s ire with Flake is likely due in part to the senator’s recent book tour during which he repeatedly criticized Trump.
Flake may be toxic. But is he as toxic as the chem trail?
I could almost support Jeff Flake. I need to keep reminding myself that we want the Republicans to split wide open so we can elect a Democrat.
Memories of the 2010 Delaware Senate race. Christine O’Donnell (R-Iamnotawitch) defeated House Rep.Mike Castle. Then got defeated by Chris Coons (D-Sanity).
Make it so.
EDIT TO ADD: On second thought, that was Delaware where O’Donnell was never going to succeed. Since this is Arizona, who knows?
Well. I wouldn’t expect him to respond any other way to this good news.
There are enough folks in AZ that have the sense to not pay attention to this. Their votes won’t be suppressed because they’re still Republicans. So the party is gonna have to figure out some other way to defeat Flake.
They all deserve each other. Kyrsten Sinema (D) for the win!