RUTHFULLY YOURS

Arizona is an interesting case study. The Hill reports on a prominent NeverTrumper in the GOP who chose not to seek re-election and is bound to receive ample press coverage in the months ahead:

Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.), a frequent critic of President Trump who recently announced his retirement, will visit New Hampshire next month, WMUR reported on Tuesday.

Flake’s appearance in the state, which holds the nation’s first presidential primary, will likely stoke speculation about a possible White House bid.

He will appear at the annual “Politics and Eggs” event, organized by the New England Council and Saint Anselm College, which typically hosts prospective presidential candidates leading up to presidential primary seasons. Trump spoke at the event in January of 2014, before he declared his candidacy.

Mr. Flake’s planned departure from the Senate has inspired Rep. Martha McSally, currently representing Arizona’s second congressional district in the U.S. House, to seek election to his seat. Meanwhile, six Democrats vying to succeed Rep. McSally in the House recently gathered in Sahuarita, just south of Tucson.

The Democratic candidates include a former member of the U.S. House, Ann Kirkpatrick. As you might expect, all the Democratic contenders have significant policy differences with President Trump, but the event also revealed differences with another senior official in Washington.

The Tuscon Sentinel reports that “the candidates were asked to raise their hands if they supported Nancy Pelosi to again serve as the Speaker of the House. Not one of the candidates, including Kirkpatrick raised their hands.” The local non-profit news outlet adds:

Kirkpatrick’s staff later clarified that she would remain a support [sic] of Pelosi’s, saying that she had misunderstood how to respond to the question with a raised hand.

Based on an account in the Washington Examiner, many in the audience could have done without the clarification. The paper has posted a video of the event supplied by a Republican political action committee. According to the Examiner:

In a video captured by America Rising last week, the candidates on the panel participated in a “lightning round” where they were asked to raise their hands if they would support Pelosi’s bid for speaker of the House.

“Now, it is time for a lightning round,” the moderator said. “Will you support Nancy Pelosi for speaker of the House?”

None of the candidates on the panel raised their hand, and the crowd responded with cheers and applause. CONTINUE AT SITE