Roberts: Kelli Ward says Steve Bannon never really endorsed her. Really, she said that

Kelli Ward, foot soldier in Steve Bannon’s war against the Republican establishment, tripped over her combat boots on Thursday as she beat a full-blown retreat to get away from her former star supporter.

On CNN’s New Day, Ward was waxing on about her national endorsements when the host, Alisyn Camerota, stopped her, saying, “and Steve Bannon.”

“Steve Bannon, I don’t know that I actually really got a full endorsement from Steve,” Ward replied.

'He was never part of my campaign'

“Well, I think you were his candidate,” Camerota replied.

Ward: “No, actually, I think that my message resonated with the things that Donald Trump said on the campaign trail. The America First agenda that actually began way back in 2010 with the tea party movement.”

“But Dr. Ward,” Camerota responded, “I’m only looking at your press release … where you say Ward has received national endorsements from Rand Paul, Laura Ingraham, Sean Hannity, Mark Levin, Dick Morris and Steve Bannon. So that's where I’m getting my information.”

“Yes, but he was never part of my campaign,” Ward explained to Camerota. “He was never an adviser. He’s not somebody that I would reach out and talk to in any way, shape or form. So it’s funny that you and the especially establishment would love to tie me to Steve Bannon.”

Yeah, it's one big conspiracy by the establishment, Kelli.

Bannon once called her a 'whirlwind'

Never mind, apparently, your October campaign kickoff, wherein you shared a stage with Bannon, who vowed that Republicans would “reap the whirlwind” and “that whirlwind is Kelli Ward.”

Or the piece posted on your campaign website, noting that  "special guests J.D. Hayworth, Laura Ingraham and Steve Bannon enthusiastically offered their support for Dr. Ward's Senate run."

But that was then, when Bannon was still considered to be a pal of Trump’s – when he could deliver the Robert and Rebekah Mercer millions.

This is now, when Bannon is bigtime on the outs with Trump, whose endorsement Ward has been chasing for well over a year.

Now, when the whirlwind has suddenly changed course, twirling and swirling away from Bannon and hoping that the stink stays downwind.

On Jan. 4, the day that Trump blew his top over Bannon’s disparaging comments in “Fire and Fury,” Ward’s spokesman noted that Bannon “is only one of a number of high-profile endorsements Dr. Ward has received.”

For Kelli Ward, he's Steve who?

Now, suddenly, Ward’s not even sure he ever endorsed her.

“I am distancing myself from Steve Bannon,” Ward acknowledged, when pressed by Camerota. “He’s made some significant mistakes, significant gaffes that are unacceptable to me.”

This, after a poll on Tuesday showed Ward’s support tanking with an endorsement from Steve Bannon. 

Or as Ward now likes to call him, Steve who?

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