Senator John McCain, running for his sixth Senate term, is worried about surviving a conservative primary challenge from state Sen. Kelli Ward. So the McCain campaign is seeking to tar her as someone who traffics in lunatic conspiracy theories.
A local news anchor briefly explains the implausible accusation, "People claim we are secretly getting sprayed with chemicals," as we see a plane fly overhead.
The action shifts to a 2014 town hall Ward organized in response to constituents who subscribe to the chemtrail conspiracy, at which a participant declared "everybody knows the federal government is behind it. Ward tells the audience, "I'm open ... I introduce legislation all the time ... I’m willing to continue this conversation," suggesting she's willing to take legislative action.
The ad leaves out other comments from Ward distancing herself from the conspiracy, such as "I don't believe that" and "I don't really have any opinions about 'chemtrails' one way or the other." But one of her denials might concern the McCain campaign: "I've never believed it - many in my district do."
McCain better hope the chemtrail believers don't represent a majority of the Arizona Republican primary electorate.
John McCain Calls Opponent "Chemtrail Kelli”
"These are serious times" says the narrator ominously, as images of ISIS and the Iranian Ayatollah flash on the screen. "So why did Kelli Ward spend your tax dollars to entertain 'chemtrail' conspiracy theories?"A local news anchor briefly explains the implausible accusation, "People claim we are secretly getting sprayed with chemicals," as we see a plane fly overhead.
The action shifts to a 2014 town hall Ward organized in response to constituents who subscribe to the chemtrail conspiracy, at which a participant declared "everybody knows the federal government is behind it. Ward tells the audience, "I'm open ... I introduce legislation all the time ... I’m willing to continue this conversation," suggesting she's willing to take legislative action.
How Many Chemtrail Believers Are In Arizona?
Borrowing from Donald Trump, the narrator slaps a nickname on her: "Chemtrail Kelli fuels conspiracy theories at taxpayer expense." Then, suggesting she continues to abet the lunatic fringe, we hear her say in a recent interview, "I'd do it again. Of course, I'd do it again," presumably referring to the convening of the town hall. The ad ends pointing viewers to a website, KelliWardSays.com, which includes more controversial remarks from her.The ad leaves out other comments from Ward distancing herself from the conspiracy, such as "I don't believe that" and "I don't really have any opinions about 'chemtrails' one way or the other." But one of her denials might concern the McCain campaign: "I've never believed it - many in my district do."
McCain better hope the chemtrail believers don't represent a majority of the Arizona Republican primary electorate.