Trump backers eye GOP primary challenges for Flake, Heller

[DonViejo]

Source: The Hill




BY LISA HAGEN - 07/23/17 10:00 AM EDT

Sens. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) and Dean Heller (R-Nev.) could soon face primary challenges from allies of President Trump.

Flake and Heller — considered two of the most vulnerable GOP senators up for reelection in 2018 — were critical of Trump during the 2016 campaign and have shown a willingness to buck him during his first six months in office.

It remains to be seen whether Trump will support or fund primary challenges against sitting GOP senators, especially since Trump-backed infighting could upset Republicans’ slim, 52-seat Senate majority. But there’s early indications that Trump or his allies could wage war against members of his own party, especially if the Senate GOP’s ObamaCare repeal completely falls apart.

The White House has met with three declared or prospective candidates who could face Flake in Arizona. That list includes former state Sen. Kelli Ward, who announced last fall, as well as Arizona State Treasurer Jeff DeWit and former Arizona Republican Party chairman Robert Graham, both of whom worked on Trump’s state campaign and are mulling bids. Politico first reported the White House meetings.

Read more: http://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/343243-trump-backers-eye-gop-primary-challenges-for-flake-heller

[Roy Rolling]

1. They did this in Louisiana

During the last Governor race. The GOP candidates beat themselves up in the primaries and the better-qualified Democratic candidate won the general election.

Oh, please Trumpsters, bring it on and soften up the primary winner for the general election.

This is the point when radicals turn on themselves and neither GOP nominee wins the general.

[SunSeeker]

6. That's what I'm hoping for!

[bucolic_frolic]

2. what do insurgents run on

when there's nothing left to trash?

[not fooled]

3. Well,

if enough GOPee voters weren't asinine enough to still be loyal to dump*, he wouldn't have enough support to threaten senators. Let's hope not enough to make a difference in the races. Would be spectacular to see his support amount to a real nothing burger if not help the incumbents.

*yeah, after all the evidence now out there that he blatantly lied to them during the campaign and is now setting up to screw them every way possible.

[janx]

4. Several years ago I was driving in AZ, on my way to visit my cousin,

and when I drove through Snowflake, I kept seeing campaign signs for Jeff Flake. I thought I was in the Twilight Zone for a minute.

I mentioned this to my cousin, who lives in Show Low (not far from Snowflake), and she told me that Jeff Flake is very popular in AZ. She likes him.

[dbackjon]

9. Snowflake was founded by the Snow and Flake families - Mormon pioneers

[Gothmog]

5. This will be fun to watch

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

7. Circular firing squad

[Tom Rinaldo]

8. Message to Flake and Heller: They will run against you no matter how you now vote.

You can not appease the ambitious Tea Party courting politicians looking for a free ticket to Washington no mater how you vote on repealing Obamacare or any other issue. They think they smell blood and mere facts will never deter then. No matter how much you buff up your "loyalist creds" to Trump before your primary season comes around you will never have been "loyal enough" for them. They will primary you and the wording of the attack ads they will run against you will stay 97% the same regardless of your actual voting record.

Either you oppose them on the substance of their demands or they will roll over you with a "purer" message to contrast with your muddled one - if you do not take clear stands that you truly believe serve the interests of your electorate. That is your only shot for holding on to your seats. It may not be good enough but it's better than any alternative. Plus just maybe you will be able to vote your conscience, wouldn't that be refreshing?

[Justice]

10. Exactly right.