opinion

Roberts: Did Kelli Ward buy Sebastian Gorka's endorsement?

Remember when Kelli Ward, having been unable to a score a Donald Trump endorsement, was cozying up to the next best thing?

No doubt, you will recall Steve Bannon’s trek to Arizona last fall to endorse Ward. Of course, once Bannon fell out of favor with Donald Trump she backed away from the guy like he had Ebola.

And went with the next best, next best thing: Sebastian Gorka. The Bannon acolyte and former Trump adviser came to Arizona in late March to stump for her U.S. Senate campaign.

There is something, however, that Ward forgot to mention as he offered up his support in her Republican primary race against Martha McSally and Joe Arpaio.

Ward trotted Gorka all around town and touted his endorsement.

I don't know why Ward would be all that honored to get Gorka's support.

According to Ward's latest FEC filing, she paid the guy $5,240.

This, on the day he tweeted that he was "honored to be here and support her."

On the very day he spoke at her Scottsdale campaign event, proclaiming "there is only one choice in the primary, and only one choice in the midterm. That is Dr. Kelli Ward."

I can think of ($)5,240 reasons he might think that.

Just as he might have had ($)5,000 reasons to endorse Danny Tarkanian, who is challenging Sen. Dean Heller in the Nevada Republican primary. (Gorka has said the payment was an "honroarium", not the price for his support.)

Paying someone to endorse you may not be illegal, but it is downright pitiful. That's likely why Ward's $5,240 payment to Gorka was a "speaking fee."

Yet curiously, Ward never thought to disclose that payment to voters as she touted Gorka's support on Twitter, on Facebook, on Sean Hannity, in press releases ...

Reach Roberts at laurie.roberts@arizonarepublic.com.

MORE FROM ROBERTS:

Kelli Ward to John McCain: Get out now.

Martha McSally chasing hard after a Trump endorsement

No way will Joe Arpaio quit Arizona Senate race