Former President Donald Trump endorsed venture capitalist Blake Masters on Thursday, delivering a much sought after prize to Masters’ campaign.
Masters is in a competitive Republican primary to challenge incumbent Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly. According to polling from late-April, Masters is sitting a few points behind the primary’s leaders, state Attorney General Mark Brnovich and retired energy executive Jim Lamon.
“Blake is Strong on Border Security, in particular, the disastrous Southern Border where people are pouring into the U.S. by the millions, and destroying our Country,” Trump said in part. “Additionally, he will Cut Taxes and Regulations, be Tough on Crime, and Support our Military and our Vets. Blake will fight for our totally under-siege Second Amendment, and WIN!”
Lamon is leading the race at 25%, with Brnovich trailing by one point at 24%, according to an April poll by The Trafalgar Group. Masters is in a solid third at 19%. Retired Air Force Major General Mick McGuire and state utility regulator Justin Olson are rounding out the bottom of the race at 8% and 3%, respectively, according to The Trafalgar Group.
Trump blasted Brnovich in his Thursday endorsement: “Mark Brnovich is such a disappointment to me.” The former president hit the state attorney general over his handling of the 2020 election.
Masters thanked Trump for the endorsement: “President Trump is a great man and a visionary. He saved this country from a Hillary Clinton regime and forever transformed American politics… and he’s not done yet. It’s incredible to have his endorsement — I wish everyone could know how this feels. Soon we will have a young, fearless, dynamic America First coalition in the U.S. Senate. And that is thanks to Donald Trump.”
Masters is one of the favorites of Peter Theil, a billionaire Silicon Valley investor who is becoming increasingly active in GOP politics. Theil has deep pockets and access to Trump that the tech executive has used to lobby the former president for endorsements. Trump’s endorsement of another Theil favorite, “Hillbilly Elegy” author J.D. Vance, boosted Vance in the final weeks of the Ohio GOP primary to replace Rob Portman.
Masters has angled for Trump’s endorsement while running a campaign based on “America First” issues, such as curbing illegal immigration and an isolationist foreign policy. Masters has also championed crafting policies that would make it possible for a single income to support a household.
Source: Dailywire
