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'Mystery' Democratic Super PAC Caught Meddling in Republican Primary

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A mysterious super PAC ultimately revealed to be funded by Democrats spent nearly $2 million in Arizona’s U.S. Senate Republican primary attacking the eventual nominee Rep. Martha McSally.

CNN reported that the blandly named “Red and Gold” super PAC concealed its donors until after last month’s primary election by forming on Aug. 1, just weeks ahead of the contest.

“Per FEC requirements, that meant the group wouldn’t file a report detailing its fundraising and spending until Sept. 20, nearly a month after the contest took place,” according to CNN.

A similar tactic was employed in West Virginia’s Republican primary, as well as last December’s special election pitting GOP nominee Judge Roy Moore against Democrat Doug Jones.

Politico reported that the new disclosure shows the Red and Gold was funded by the Senate Majority PAC, the main super PAC aligned with Senate Democrats.

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The group seeded Red and Gold PAC with $1.7 million, which it used to hit McSally with attack ads beginning in early August.

Among the attacks ads that Red and Gold ran was one claiming McSally supported an “age tax” that led older people to pay more for health insurance.

Arizona Republic columnist Robert Robb dismissed this ad as “over the top” and “outlandish,” explaining it’s based on McSally’s support for a bill backed by House Speaker Paul Ryan that would have repealed and replaced Obamacare.

The legislation had nothing to do with Medicare, which is how “older” Americans receive their health care coverage, but addressed government subsidies offered based on age prior to being eligible for Medicare at 65 years old.

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Robb argued if the ad’s definition of tax is adopted, Sinema would be guilty of supporting an age tax by her backing of Obamacare in the first place.

McSally handily won Arizona’s Republican Aug. 28 primary with 53 percent of the vote. Her closest challenger, Kelli Ward, took 28 percent.

However, even if the Red and Gold super PAC failed in denying the nomination to McSally, who was considered Democrat nominee Rep. Kyrsten Sinema’s most formidable foe among the GOP field, it still availed itself of the opportunity to bloody and begin to define the Republican candidate heading into November’s contest.

The Cook Political Report rates the race a “toss up,” meaning it offers the Democrats one of its few solid chances to pick up a Senate seat in November currently held by a Republican.

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The Real Clear Politics average of polls gives Sinema a 2.5 percent advantage over McSally: 47.3 to 44.8 percent.

An NBC News/Marist poll published this week found Sinema with a three-point advantage, 48 to 45 percent; however, NBC noted McSally had risen significantly since the group’s June survey, when the result was 49 to 38 percent in Sinema’s favor.

According to NBC, when Green Party nominee Angela Green is included as an option in the poll, Sinema’s edge with likely voters slips to 45 percent to McSally’s 43 percent.

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Randy DeSoto has written more than 2,000 articles for The Western Journal since he joined the company in 2015. He is a graduate of West Point and Regent University School of Law. He is the author of the book "We Hold These Truths" and screenwriter of the political documentary "I Want Your Money."
Randy DeSoto is the senior staff writer for The Western Journal. He wrote and was the assistant producer of the documentary film "I Want Your Money" about the perils of Big Government, comparing the presidencies of Ronald Reagan and Barack Obama. Randy is the author of the book "We Hold These Truths," which addresses how leaders have appealed to beliefs found in the Declaration of Independence at defining moments in our nation's history. He has been published in several political sites and newspapers.

Randy graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point with a BS in political science and Regent University School of Law with a juris doctorate.
Birthplace
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Nationality
American
Honors/Awards
Graduated dean's list from West Point
Education
United States Military Academy at West Point, Regent University School of Law
Books Written
We Hold These Truths
Professional Memberships
Virginia and Pennsylvania state bars
Location
Phoenix, Arizona
Languages Spoken
English
Topics of Expertise
Politics, Entertainment, Faith




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