When Kari Lake was in the running for Arizona governor, she made some strong statements about the late John McCain. As a staunch supporter of Donald Trump, Lake didn’t hold back in going after Arizona’s established Republican senator.
After winning the GOP primary in 2022, Lake triumphantly declared to her supporters that they had defeated the McCain legacy. She even went as far as mimicking a stake through the heart as she labeled McCain a loser and demanded his backers leave a campaign event. Lake also made unfounded accusations against McCain’s wife, Cindy, implicating her in a plot with George Soros to undermine America.
However, recent statements from Lake indicate that her previous remarks were made in a jesting manner. She now claims that her use of the term “loser” was meant humorously and believes that McCain, known for his humor, would have found it amusing.
Meghan McCain, John McCain’s daughter and a staunch defender of his legacy, did not take kindly to Lake’s attempts to backtrack on her previous attacks. She publicly criticized Lake for trying to win over McCain supporters, accusing her of insincerity.
Lake’s attempt to mend fences with the McCain family by mentioning her own father’s battle with cancer fell flat. Meghan responded with a sharp rejection, emphasizing that there would be no reconciliation.
It’s evident that Lake’s motives have shifted as she enters the Senate race, possibly abandoning her aspirations of being Trump’s running mate. The upcoming election is projected to pit Lake against Democratic candidate Ruben Gallego for Senator Kyrsten Sinema’s seat.
While Sinema has not confirmed if she will run for reelection, the current political climate in Arizona suggests that her candidacy is becoming less likely with each passing day.
In a state where Democrats, Republicans, and independents are evenly divided, Lake will need the support of moderate Republicans and right-leaning independents to secure a victory in the Senate race, according to GOP strategist Barrett Marson.