Kelli Ward to tour with Pizzagate conspiracy theorist Mike Cernovich. No, really Opinion: Kelli Ward is so desperate for votes that she's touring Arizona this week with noted conspiracy theorist and misogynist Mike Cernovich, saying "he has an audience we want to reach.".

Laurie Roberts | The Republic | azcentral.com

After four years of trying to convince Arizona voters to send her to the U.S. Senate, Kelli Ward wraps it up this week …

… By traveling around the state with one of the country’s most obnoxious conspiracy theorists and male supremacists.

Mike Cernovich is best known for his 2016 work promoting Pizzagate, the absurd claim that Hillary Clinton was part of a pedophile ring in the basement of a Washington, D.C., pizzeria. He also promoted the theory that she had Parkinson’s disease.

But he’s been appalling Americans for plenty of other reasons.

He has proclaimed date rape "does not exist" and said that the only way to avoid is is "not being a slut." He has accused various politicians and journalists critical of President Donald Trump of being pedophiles or running child sex rings.

He previously has associated with the alt-righters and white-nationalists

And now, with Kelli Ward.

Is Ward really clueless about his views?

Ward this week wraps up her primary election campaign with a "Road to Victory" bus tour around Arizona, campaigning alongside Rep. Paul Gosar, Sen. Rand Paul … and Cernovich. She is trailing fellow Republican Martha McSally and apparently thinks a fringe character will help put her over the top.

When MSNBC host Kasie Hunt questioned Ward about Cernovich's controversial views on Sunday evening, Ward pronounced herself clueless.

"I don't really know what Mike Cernovich's views are," Ward said. "I know he's got an audience and we want to serve everyone."

Cue Hunt: "Mike Cernovich has been associated with the Pizzagate theory that led to shots being fired at Comet Pizza here in Washington. Do you believe what has been said about Hillary Clinton and pizza and all this nonsense that has been on the internet?"

Ward: "All I know about Hillary Clinton is that she would have been a terrible president …"

Cue Hunt: “Do you think that Republican Party should embrace the so called alt-right movement?”

Ward: "I think the Republican Party and the people of the United States should embrace making America great again.”

Ward just wants Cernovich's audience

When Hunt asked Ward why she invited Cernovich on her bus tour, Ward explained that she wants his audience.

“Mike Cernovich has an audience that we want to reach and that includes Republicans, conservatives, liberals, Democrats, people of all ilks,” she said. “And so if he’s coming on the bus tour I think he’ll have a voice and he’ll have something that he wants to say.”

Actually, Cernovich has had plenty to say over the years. Here are a few of his thoughts, most courtesy of the Southern Poverty Law Center:

“Have you guys ever tried ‘raping’ a girl without using force? Try it. It’s basically impossible. Date rape does not exist.” Twitter. August 2012

“Rape via an alpha male is different from other forms of rape. We can't really understand this, as our culture is too detached from instinct.” Twitter, September 2013

“I went from libertarian to alt-right after realizing tolerance only went one way and diversity is code for white genocide.” Twitter, October 2015

“The ‘alt-right’ hasn’t killed anyone, but #BlackLivesMatter regularly slaughters the innocent. Know the real threat. Think! #Dallas.” Twitter, October 2015

Yes, he really did say (or tweet) that

“Today we have a moment of silence for Trayvon Martin’s rape victims. Kidding! He got got before he was able to rape anyone.” Twitter, February 2016

“Not being a slut is the only proven way to avoid AIDS. If you love Black women, slut shame them.” Twitter, February 2016

“If you’re a woman, go out and tell a group of men that that man raped you. See what happens. They’re going to believe you probably, especially if you’re crying and hysterical. It’s p---y privilege. If you own a p---y, men will white knight for you, they will risk their lives to save you, they will believe you. You go tell five men that I raped you they’re not going to believe me unless I’m really persuasive and my life will literally be in danger if you said that. P---y privilege is real, you got it. You also get the p---y pass.” Youtube, March 2017

After four years of running hard, Ward wraps up her quest this week by asking this guy to serve as one of her headliners?

Hey, I guess any vote you can get at this point.

Me? I don’t know what’s worse. That Kelli Ward wants to associate herself with a lunatic.

Or that she thinks associating with a lunatic will help her in her quest for Republican votes.

Reach Roberts at laurie.roberts@arizonarepublic.com.

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