AZ-SEN 2022 Megathread: Mastering the Art of the Thiel

[Ferguson97]

I'd be pretty shocked if Trump didn't endorse Masters at some point. He was really pissed that Brnovich didn't overturn the 2020 election results.

[Ferguson97]

It's a 2 way race between Brnovich and Lamon now. I don't see Masters getting any real traction.

What's your consensus on the general as an AZ resident? Is Kelly DOA or does he have a shot if he gets a weaker challenger and runs a good campaign?

[Ferguson97]

Trump would be a fool to endorse Masters, he's probably the weakest candidate to run against Kelly.

[Ferguson97]

Trump would be a fool to endorse Masters, he's probably the weakest candidate to run against Kelly.

That would go to Lamon.

Eh, I kinda think Lamon is as “generic R” as possible. He has less baggage than Masters, IMO, and hasn’t done everything to please no one like Brno.

Masters has no baggage.

Masters is a Thiel-backed conspiracy theorist.

[Ferguson97]

Could he not refrain from spending half the letter talking about voter fraud?

No, he literally cannot help himself.

[Ferguson97]

Of course Trump backs the Thiel-funded candidate.

[Ferguson97]

Another big stepper against the regime

Yeah, nothing says 'anti-establishment populist hero' like being funded by Peter Thiel.

[Ferguson97]

The guy hit a woman. He deserved it.

Amazing how comfortable you feel blatantly lying like this.

She attacked him first and he defended himself. Then Masters assaulted him.

From the article:

When it became clear Jackson had no intention of leaving, several people dialed 911. The crowd around him grew, including one woman who got in his face with her pink phone.

He caught it all on his Go Pro.

At one point, and just inches from his face, the woman reached out and shoved him in the side. Then she balled up her fist and delivered a right hook that snapped Jackson's head back.

He had his phone in his left hand and his Go Pro in his right — and the video started getting a bit wobbly. But it's clear enough to see that he put out his hand and pushed hers away. He did not strike her, according to the video I saw. It was clearly a move to protect himself.

Then out of nowhere comes Blake Masters, a U.S. Senate candidate who'd been glad-handing in the background.

Masters lunged at Jackson, put both hands around his neck and pushed him backward.

[Ferguson97]

Brnovich ran such a bad campaign it's hilarious. He might somehow still get second but I just don't see how he can win at this point. I will be voting for Blake Masters, he is a really smart guy and has potential to be a great senator. His messaging against Mark Kelly is already miles better than McSally's was, although tbf McSally was kind of doomed regardless.

What makes Masters stronger than McSally and don’t you think Masters will turn off moderate Republicans in Maricopa county?

Because McSally became a meme. If the first thing people know about you is 'lost two elections in two years' you don't have much room to redefine yourself.

That doesn't explain her losses though. When she ran in 2018 she hadn't lost at all and when she lost in 2020 she only lost once.

[Ferguson97]

https://twitter.com/patriottakes/status/1554502398353104896?s=20&t=auzB9RqE0...

[Ferguson97]

https://twitter.com/patriottakes/status/1554502398353104896?s=20&t=auzB9RqE0...

I've never heard of anyone using the term "stalking" in a sentence and intending for it to be a positive. But that's today's GOP for you.

@patriottakes isn't a pro-GOP account. "From their bio: Dedicated researchers monitoring and exposing right-wing extremism and other threats to democracy."

[Ferguson97]

However, that ad doesn't really say anything about where he stands on a lot of important issues and that's what he's going to need to figure out how to present, especially since a lot of his stances are not in line with the median AZ voter.

Yeah, that's why it's a good ad. When you're a fascist like Masters, presenting yourself as a "generic Republican" is the best strategy, especially when running against a strong candidate like Mark Kelly.

The less Masters opens his mouth, the better his chances, and he seems disciplined enough to know when to shut up.

[Ferguson97]

https://twitter.com/hodgesmr/status/1563166264545390592

[Ferguson97]

https://twitter.com/Robillard/status/1567487764202938368

[Ferguson97]

https://twitter.com/tbonier/status/1573357338710474755

[Ferguson97]

I agree that Blake Masters isn’t a strong candidate. I think he will get around 47% of the vote in the end to Mark Kelly’s 50 or 51%. Unfortunately, Kari Lake will win the governorship however due to the fact that Katie Hobbs is running a campaign in a way that will snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.

You think Mark Kelly is gonna win by 3-4 points? Oh my god, he's gonna win in a landslide.

[Ferguson97]

Suggestions for a new thread title?

Jack of all trades, Masters of none

[Ferguson97]

Hadn't realized how much of a dweeb Blake Masters was. Guy has no charisma.

[Ferguson97]

I don't know how many Arizona voters are watching this debate, but Kelly's performance isn't going to help him. He's doing terribly.

Kelly isn't like super charismatic, but Masters is doing much much worse.

[Ferguson97]

Wow, really good line from Kelly "We all know guys like this. He thinks he knows better than you."

[Ferguson97]

edit: Kelly now tripling down on calling Masters a "know-it-all." Clearly focus-grouped this line.

This is kind of a weird way to define your opponent, but if he can tie it to abortion, more power to him.

He tied it to a couple issues. "He thinks he knows better than seniors on social security, he thinks he knows better than veterans on war, he thinks he knows better than women on their own bodies."

[Ferguson97]

LMAO Masters called the election rigged, what a joke

[Ferguson97]

I agree Kelly didn't do fantastic, but Masters did a really terrible job. He came across as a robotic nerd and I don't see how his framing wins over swing voters.

[Ferguson97]

Getting nervous now

How would it benefit the Kelly campaign to say that they have the election in the bag? All that would accomplish is breeding complacency among his own supporters.

[Ferguson97]

https://twitter.com/ZachMontellaro/status/1585263286320250880