 [Hot Air] Makes sense, especially when you remember that McConnell worries about primary challenges first and foremost. Arizona righties have been dogged in trying to oust establishment dinosaurs. Granted, they failed against McCain with J.D. Hayworth in 2010 and Kelli Ward in 2016, but Jeff Flake was weak enough in hypothetical match-ups against Ward that he didn’t bother to run for reelection this time. This year’s primary drew not one but two well-known populist challengers in Ward and Joe Arpaio, in fact. McConnell’s eyeing 2020 and the looming special election for McCain’s (now Jon Kyl’s) seat and worrying about another populist brushfire starting. If he doesn’t start playing chess now, Republicans might end up with a Roy Moore scenario in a purplish state in two years with control of the Senate on the line. |