The reasons Martha morphed from McSally to McShifty to McSully
Opinion: Which version of the candidate would voters be sending to Washington? There's no way to know.
EJ Montini
Some things are really difficult to understand, like quadratic equations, Jean-Paul Sartre’s Being and Nothingness, velour track suits, the appeal of deep dish pizza and … Martha McSally.
In the lead up to 2016 presidential election McSally wouldn’t for the longest time commit to supporting Donald Trump’s campaign or even to voting for him.
When his taped comments from “Access Hollywood” were released, with Trump bragging about being able to do whatever he wanted with women, even “grab ‘em by the p---y,” McSally tweeted:
But Trump did well in Arizona, and McSally wanted to move up from representative to senator, and for that she needed Trump voters.
I get that.
Looking for Trump voters
It explains why the congresswoman McShifted to the right, particularly on the issue of border security. It’s a solid election strategy in Arizona. It has worked for politicians in this state for at least 20 years, including Sen. John McCain.
In 2010 he fell back on the border-warrior strategy with his “complete the danged fence” campaign commercial with then-Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu.
For McSally, going all on border security also blended well with Trump’s anti-immigrant, build-the-wall bluster.
But in Democrat Kyrsten Sinema it became clear that McSally was up against a candidate with broad appeal as a centrist.
Sinema even demonstrated concern and legislative results for veterans, cutting into what McSally sees as her military wheelhouse.
Sinema assisted vets
Congress passed and the president signed Sinema’s “Sergeant Daniel Somers Classified Veterans Access to Care Act,” legislation aimed at helping vets like Somers, who sought help from the VA after his discharge and didn’t get it. He took his own life.
Sinema worked with Sgt. Somers’ parents, Howard and Jean, to put the legislation together. (The grateful couple has filmed campaign ads on Sinema’s behalf.)
The race is really tight.
There is no guarantee for McSally, even with a visit and an endorsement from Trump.
So she decided to go full-bore McSully, accusing Sinema of “treason” for an off-handed remark made during an obscure radio interview 15 years go. And then doubling down on the ridiculous allegation.
Which Martha are they voting for?
As if repeating it makes it any more true.
As if she’s trying to outdo (or at least mimic) Trump.
As if doing so is the only way to get into the U.S. Senate.
As if Arizona voters would know who they’re getting.
McSally, McShifty or McSully?
Reach Montini at ed.montini@arizonarepublic.com.
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