GOP Senate Candidate Kelli Ward: I’m the Doctor Washington Needs to Cure It of ‘Swamp-itis’
In the wake of GOP Sen. Jeff Flake’s shocking announcement that he will not seek re-election next year, a lot of focus has been placed on the Republican challenger who had been looking to primary him in the Arizona race. With Flake now out of the picture, Dr. Kelli Ward appeared on MSNBC this afternoon to hype up her campaign and present herself as the most Trumpian alternative to the outgoing anti-Trump lawmaker.
Right off the bat, MSNBC host Katy Tur referenced Flake’s barn-burning Senate floor speech in which he called the president a danger to democracy, asking Ward if she agreed with the Arizona lawmaker.
“I don’t,” the good doctor responded. “What I agree with Senator Flake there is a serious illness within Washington, D.C. and it is contagious but it is swamp-itis. And thank goodness we have a doctor who’s going to be coming to Washington to heal those ills.”
“Are you talking about yourself?” Tur asked. “I am, I’m coming,” Ward replied.
Later on in the interview, Tur pressed Ward to define the “Swamp”, leading the Senate candidate to note that it consists of insiders in Washington who have “taken advantage of their position,” which is why it needs to be drained. However, when pushed on whether she would only take campaign contributions from individual voters and reject anything from special interests, Ward demurred and said she would “utilize the system as it exists” while offering praise to Breitbart chief and aspiring GOP kingmaker Steve Bannon.
The interview would also consist of Ward being pressed on whether she thought Trump is a role model and her thoughts on audience members at a Bannon speech calling for Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) — Ward once demanded McCain retire so she could take his place — to be hanged.
Watch the whole segment above, via MSNBC.
[image via screengrab]
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