Kelli Ward melts down over Republic's support for Martha McSally Opinion: Arizona Senate candidate Kelli Ward goes into meltdown after she failed to garner The Republic's support for her Senate race.

Laurie Roberts | The Republic | azcentral.com

Kelli Ward went into meltdown mode overnight, attacking reporters and generally having a Twit-fit because she didn’t win The Arizona Republic’s endorsement for the open Senate seat.

For the record, she also didn’t win Donald Trump’s endorsement, or former Sen. Jon Kyl’s endorsement, or former Gov. Jan Brewer’s endorsement.

She didn’t win former House Newt Gingrich’s endorsement or the National Federation of Independent Business’s endorsement either.

Funny, I don’t recall her becoming unhinged over those slights.

But The Republic endorses her opponent and suddenly Ward flies into a tirade.

Then came Ward's tweetstorm

Cue Ward:

...a true, conservative leader who will serve #WeThePeople. As your Senator, I will be a relentless voice for the people of Arizona in D.C. Together, we will restore the free-market healthcare system, #BuildTheWall to secure our border, & reduce our federal debt. #VoteWard #AZSEN — Dr. Kelli Ward (@kelliwardaz) August 5, 2018

...The #FakeNews media balks at the notion that they’re the enemy of the people all while continuing to oppose the #AmericaFirst agenda. If you don't like the moniker, drop the left-wing policies like open borders & sanctuary cities which result in MORE CRIME! Arizona deserves... — Dr. Kelli Ward (@kelliwardaz) August 5, 2018

...whose failed policies have hurt the American people and citizens of Arizona. From McCain's infamous thumbs down on #RepealObamaCare to Flake comparing @realDonaldTrump to the dictator Stalin to McSally voting for #Amnesty 11 times & calling the President's words "hateful"... — Dr. Kelli Ward (@kelliwardaz) August 5, 2018

The positions that @azcentral @dannowicki @yvonnewingett support - like open borders & sanctuary cities - stand in direct contrast with the values of millions of Arizonans. They are in lockstep with #NeverTrumpers like Flake, McCain, and McSally... — Dr. Kelli Ward (@kelliwardaz) August 5, 2018

Per usual, the so-called @azcentral “journalists” like Nowicki & Sanchez are wrong. Not one will answer my charge: Like @SenJohnMcCain, @JeffFlake, & @MarthaMcSally, the paper promotes & supports amnesty & open borders. Arizona voters won’t be duped again! #MarthaMcAmnesty #AZSEN — Dr. Kelli Ward (@kelliwardaz) August 6, 2018

Not with Ward? Then you're against her

No fewer than nine hashtags to proclaim that if you don’t support Ward, then ipso facto you are a member of the open borders crowd, welcoming all manner of criminals to come into our country.

Forget the inconvenient fact that neither political editor Dan Nowicki nor political reporter Yvonne Wingett Sanchez has anything to do with who the newspaper endorses.

They do, however, have “an agenda.” It’s to cover the race to replace Jeff Flake, to report fairly on what the candidates are saying and doing – and perhaps as importantly, what they aren’t saying and doing.

The newspaper’s editorial board, by the way, has an “agenda”, as well: to recommend to voters which Republican the board thinks would best represent Arizona in the U.S. Senate – and why.

Here's who is running for Senate in Arizona Here's what you need to know about Arizona's Senate candidates: Kyrsten Sinema, Deedra Abboud, Joe Arpaio, Martha McSally and Kelli Ward.

You can disagree with its thinking. But perhaps you will pick up some information from the editorial that might aid you in drawing your own conclusions as you do your own research.

The board – like many others in Arizona – is recommending McSally as the strongest candidate to face off against the likely Democratic nominee, Kyrsten Sinema.

Like Charlie Brown, minus the sympathy

To no one's surprise, Ward’s response is to attack, attack, attack -- heavy on the hashtags, light on the facts.

I’ve said before that Kelli Ward is the Charlie Brown of Arizona politics. She wants so badly to make the big play.

Having lost to John McCain in 2016, she ran full tilt at Sen. Jeff Flake, figuring she was a shoo-in to knock him off in 2018.

Then Donald Trump didn’t endorse her, even when she was the only alternative to the despised Sen. Jeff Flake.

Then suddenly she was running not against Flake but against the more formidable Rep. Martha McSally.

Then former Sheriff Joe Arpaio jumped into the race, bleeding off support from the far-right Ward.

Every time Ward goes to kick her political career down the field, it seems somebody snatches away the ball.

Or more likely, she just trips over her own mouth.

It’s easy to feel sorry for Charlie Brown, who yearns to be the hero yet seems resigned to his role as the goat.

For the always raging Kelli Ward, not so much.

Reach Roberts at laurie.roberts@arizonarepublic.com.

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