Roberts: Trump headed to Arizona to endorse Flake challenger?

Laurie Roberts: Donald Trump is headed to Phoenix next week. Is this payback to Jeff Flake?

Laurie Roberts
The Republic | azcentral.com
Trump, at a March 2016 rally in Fountain Hills with state Treasurer Jeff DeWit, then-Sheriff Joe Arpaio and former Gov. Jan Brewer.

Donald Trump is coming to Phoenix on Tuesday, one of his few (if any?) forays west of the Mississippi since becoming president.

Is he coming:

A. Because he’s in need of an adoring crowd to bolster his battered ego?

B. To pardon ex-Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio?

Or C. To endorse a Republican candidate to run against Sen. Jeff Flake?

My money’s on C.

OK, well, A and C.

Don't see Trump pardon for Arpaio -- yet

I don’t see Trump pardoning Arpaio just yet, even though he’s announced that he’s “seriously considering” it.

He’s already emboldened white supremacists and rocked the world with his comments about Charlottesville.

Is Trump really now ready to excuse a law enforcement officer who was found to have systematically violated people’s civil rights? Is he really ready to pardon an ex-sheriff who ignored the lawful order of a federal judge to cut it out even before he is sentenced? Even before he can appeal?

More motivation to go after Jeff Flake

More likely, Trump’s coming to town to pay back Flake, a longtime burr in his behind who exacerbated the sore with his recent book, "Conscience of a Conservative, A Rejection of Destructive Politics and a Return to Principle." (Read: A Rejection of Donald Trump.)

Thus far, former state Sen. Kelli Ward is the only Republican challenging Flake. But she lost to John McCain last year. Her activities of late – her brazen call for McCain to step down and accompanying assurance that she’s ready to take his place – don’t suggest that she can expand on her far-right base.

The problem for Ward and for the Republican Party is this: Should Ward somehow pull out a win in the primary, the Democrats will have a decent shot at taking a Senate seat. That’s something they haven’t done in 30 years, since Dennis DeConcini.

An opportunity to reward DeWit, a loyalist?

Even the risk-averse Kyrsten Sinema is now said to be seriously considering a run for the seat.

So who would Trump endorse?

The Washington Times is quoting sources as saying Trump will endorse Jeff DeWit.

The state treasurer is one of Trump’s earliest and most loyal supporters. He served both as Trump's Arizona campaign manager and as chief operating officer of his national campaign.

After getting a snootful of state politics while tangling with Gov. Doug Ducey over Proposition 123, DeWit long ago announced that he won’t be running for re-election. He’s said to want a spot in the Trump administration.

An endorsement of DeWit could help Flake

I’m guessing Trump could decide he’d rather have his guy in the U.S. Senate than as some underling in the Commerce Department.

DeWit’s biggest problem would be … not Flake but Kelli Ward.

DeWit v. Flake head-to-head in a Republican primary: Flake’s got trouble.

But DeWit v. Ward v. Flake: The anti-Flake vote is split and Flake wins easily.

The problem is, sources tell me DeWit doesn't want the job and he hasn't been courting GOP donors, as a candidate would be doing at this point in the race.

That leaves ... Kelli Ward.

On Thursday, Trump tweeted out what appears to be the precursor to an endorsement.

Don't you just know that Democrat Kyrsten Sinema, who I'm told is going to run for the seat, is rubbing her hands in glee... 

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