Jon Kyl trashes endorsements, endorses John McCain
January 14th, 2008, 12:55 pm · 3 Comments · posted by Paul Giblin
Jon Kyl
Traveling man Jon Kyl offered an interesting assessment of political endorsements during an hourlong interview on KTAR (92.3-FM) while on a stopover in Arizona on Friday, Jan. 11.
The topic came up just hours before Democratic Gov. Janet Napolitano endorsed presidential contender Barack Obama, an announcement that received heavy news coverage.
Kyl was asked how much influence political endorsements carry.
“Not very much, but some,” he said. “I will say, when people in the media endorse, like big newspapers in a state, I think that can have a little bit of an influence with undecided voters.”
The Republican U.S. senator from Arizona told KTAR that endorsements tend to play to the party faithful. Kyl said, “Really important people who do endorsements are looked at by their supporters for some guidance, and that can make a difference in a close race where people are just really unsure.”
So overall, according to Kyl, political endorsements don’t carry much weight. OK, we’ll take his word for it.
Now for a little context – a few days before Kyl gave that interview, he was in New Hampshire campaigning for presidential candidate John McCain, who happens to be his personal friend. And today, Monday, Jan. 14, Kyl was scheduled to appeare at Doc’s Gumbo Grill in Columbia, S.C., to stump for McCain again. It just begs the question: Will the gumbo-eating residents of Columbia care whom Kyl likes in the presidential race?
January 14th, 2008 at 3:01 pm
Slow down here. Have we all forgotten Kyle’s campaign manager (LDS). LDS are solidly backing Romney. It’s a fact.
McCain in past years (many), has recieved the support of LDS (it’s just a fact that many Republican AZ lawmakers are LDS). Early in 2007, an article in the Tribune stated that McCain was meeting in Mesa with MORMON leaders, (politicians), yes those were the words in the paper, to seek their support. No, he didn’t get it. Surprised?
So, we have Kyl who is now supporting McCain. Kyl’s connections to the same lawmakers, are what has put him in office, and kept him in office.
I would not vote for McCain, Kyl, or Romney for anything, because of these Church connections.
What appears, is that there is the smallest possibility that McCain could pose a problem for Romney (though I doubt it). Options are that Romney scoops up McCain for VP, and Kyle recieves a Presidential Appointment.
I would not take any information at face value concerning any of these characters. I do NOT believe, Kyle is supporting McCain without the “approval” of LDS. I think the dent McCain could have at the polls, is truly not a concern to anyone. (Nothing against McCain per se). Something is not right here, and I think this whole thing is another dirty deal by our lawmakers.
Kyle and McCain have associated much too closely with LDS politicians in AZ, for this support to be taken at face value.
I would call it political suicide for Kyle, and he’s way too smart and ambitious for that…
January 14th, 2008 at 4:50 pm
I hate to pop your Mormon conspiracy theory ExMesan, but…
Jon Kyl’s 2006 re-election campaign chairman was Jake Logan, who is not Mormon. Also, the two highest-profile Mormon political figures in the state, U.S. Rep. Jeff Flake, and former U.S. Rep. and former Arizona Republican Party chairman Matt Salmon, both are supporting John McCain for president.
Flake even has campaigned for McCain. Salmon served as co-state director for McCain’s campaign until he moved to take a job with Washington-based organization that lobbies for the cable-TV industry.
– Paul Giblin
January 15th, 2008 at 12:27 pm
Hold your horses, everybody!
McKyl is in it for McKyl. Neither one of them has anything to do with the rank and file Republicans in the State of Arizona anymore. They are so isolated on their thrones that they no longer see where they stand. McKyl is the perpetrator of the pending BIG BANK crises which, through his legislative twists, will be laddled onto the backs of the American taxpayer. Both are amnesty proponents. Call it by any other name. It’s amnesty! And McKyl will claw your eyes out to get to where he wants to be - the US Supreme Court.
We really deserve all of the “representation” that we have voted into office!
Oh, and don’t forget McJanet, too!