Sen. Jeff Flake keeping focus on job, not primary noise
Oct 18, 2017, 8:42 AM | Updated: 11:33 am
(AP Photos)
(AP Photos)
PHOENIX — The growing effort to unseat Arizona Sen. Jeff Flake by his own party has gotten notice around the country, but the Republican lawmaker said he has had other things on his mind.
In other words, GOP political strategist Steve Bannon’s appearance at a Scottsdale fundraiser Tuesday for a rival had little impact on Flake.
“I’m not paying much attention to it. I’m back here in D.C. and that happened in Arizona … I’m focused on the job here,” Flake said Wednesday on KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Arizona’s Morning News.
Bannon, former chief strategist to President Donald Trump, endorsed Dr. Kelli Ward, a onetime state senator from Lake Havasu City, at the event. A superPAC, Great America, that has ties to Bannon, has officially backed other Republicans in Senate races.
The group raised over $30 million in support of Trump and two of its wheeler-dealers joined Ward’s campaign in August.
Flake has raised nearly $4 million for his fight, Ward over $1 million.
Recently, 2016 presidential candidate Sen. Marco Rubio headlined a Flake fundraiser and another was set for Thursday, hosted by major state donors, including auto dealership magnate Jim Click and Phoenix Suns owner Robert Sarver.
That event will feature former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
