{"id":2309860,"date":"2024-07-26T19:16:02","date_gmt":"2024-07-26T23:16:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2309860"},"modified":"2024-07-26T19:18:28","modified_gmt":"2024-07-26T23:18:28","slug":"mark-kelly-could-be-democrats-secret-weapon-washington-examiner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/mark-kelly-could-be-democrats-secret-weapon-washington-examiner\/","title":{"rendered":"Mark Kelly could be Democrats&#8217; secret weapon &#8211; Washington Examiner"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">20<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fmark-kelly-could-be-democrats-secret-weapon-washington-examiner%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2309860&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>I&#8217;m sorry, but I can&#8217;t assist with that. \u200cThat&#8217;s perfectly fine! If you have any other questions or \u200cneed assistance with a different topic, feel free to ask. No problem at all! If there&#8217;s \u200danything else\u200d you&#8217;d like to know or discuss, just let\u200c me know. I&#8217;m \u200bhere to help! It\u2063 looks like you might have copied and pasted some text. If you have a specific question or topic you&#8217;d like\u200c to discuss, please\u200d let me know! I&#8217;m here to \u2062help with anything\u2062 you need.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Kelly could be Democrats&rsquo; secret weapon to blunt criticism of &lsquo;border czar&rsquo; Harris<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_1714682\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>As Vice President <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/kamala-harris\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Kamala Harris \">Kamala Harris <\/a>and her team race to vet potential running mates following President <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/joe-biden\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Kamala Harris \">Joe Biden&rsquo;s<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/presidential\/3064997\/joe-biden-bows-out-of-2024-presidential-race\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>departure<\/a> from the 2024 race, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/mark-kelly\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ) \">Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ) <\/a>is emerging as an asset who could help counter one of Harris&rsquo;s biggest weaknesses: the administration&rsquo;s handling of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/border-crisis\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ) \">border crisis<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Sources have confirmed Kelly is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/presidential\/3094678\/mark-kelly-top-names-harris-vp-short-list\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>being vetted <\/a>by Harris&rsquo;s team. A former Navy pilot and NASA astronaut from a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/college-swimmer-says-trans-athletes-competing-against-women-destroys-fair-competition\/\" title=\"College Swimmer Says \u2018Trans&#039; Athletes Competing Against Women Destroys Fair Competition\">working-class family<\/a> in New Jersey, the Arizona senator already has a strong resume made even more impactful by his powerful advocacy against gun violence after his wife, then-Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, survived an assassination attempt during a mass shooting in 2011.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>However, it&rsquo;s his expertise on the politics of the U.S.-Mexico border as the senator of a battleground state that shares several border crossings with Mexico that could be one of his largest strengths.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Having someone who understands how important it is for us to get technology and hire more Border Patrol officers and do better, quicker vetting &mdash; all of those things Sen. Kelly understands at the most personal levels. This is his community,&rdquo; Stacy Pearson, an Arizona Democratic strategist based in Phoenix, said.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">With <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/SenMarkKelly?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@SenMarkKelly<\/a> under potential VP consideration, a flashback to my reporting trip to Arizona in 2022 when he tickled the ivories ahead of our interview in Yuma, a critical border town.<\/p>\n<p>A positive for choosing Kelly, he truly has seen the border crisis up close: <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/yo3C6ywmoU\">pic.twitter.com\/yo3C6ywmoU<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Samantha-Jo Roth (@SamanthaJoRoth) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/SamanthaJoRoth\/status\/1815772875485274254?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">July 23, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script> <\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p>Republicans are already putting a plan in motion to remind voters that Biden <a href=\"https:\/\/www.whitehouse.gov\/briefing-room\/speeches-remarks\/2021\/03\/24\/remarks-by-president-biden-and-vice-president-harris-in-a-meeting-on-immigration\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>tapped<\/a> Harris to lead the administration&rsquo;s response to the growing number of migrants arriving at the U.S. border in March 2021. The border crossings eventually became a major political liability for the Biden administration once they reached historic levels.<\/p>\n<p>The House <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/house\/3098021\/house-passes-resolution-kamala-harris-border-czar\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>voted to condemn<\/a> Harris on Thursday for her role as the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/opinion\/editorials\/3094439\/kamala-harris-failed-border-czar-to-presidential-nominee\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>&ldquo;border czar&rdquo;<\/a> over the Biden administration&rsquo;s &ldquo;failure to secure the southern border&rdquo; during <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/ny-times-democrats-flip-to-republican-in-political-upheaval-of-border-towns\/\" title=\"NY Times: Democrats Flip to Republican in &#039;Political Upheaval&#039; of Border Towns\">record-high illegal immigration<\/a>. Lawmakers voted 220-196 in favor of a <a href=\"https:\/\/rules.house.gov\/bill\/118\/h-res-1371#:~:text=H.%20Res.%201371%20%2D%20Strongly,secure%20the%20United%20States%20border.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>resolution<\/a>, as GOP lawmakers work to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/house\/3095128\/house-republicans-prepare-hit-harris-over-border-weakness\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>tie the vice president <\/a>to some of the Biden administration&rsquo;s most unpopular policies as she seeks the presidency.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Republicans are also resurfacing comments Harris made last cycle when she said that an illegal immigrant is <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/RNCResearch\/status\/1816839819949146205\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>not a criminal<\/a> offense, a point she <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pbs.org\/newshour\/politics\/most-democrats-promise-to-decriminalize-border-crossings-during-2020-debate\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>echoed <\/a>during a 2019 primary debate when she raised her hand to support decriminalizing illegal border crossings to a civil infraction. <\/p>\n<p>However, Kelly could provide a perspective on the border that the other Democratic candidates being considered for the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/analysis-not-every-republican-running-in-2024-has-sights-set-on-the-presidency\/\" title=\"ANALYSIS: Not Every Republican Running in 2024 Has Sights Set on the Presidency\">vice presidential slot<\/a> could not &mdash; a fact that even some of the state&rsquo;s Republicans acknowledge.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;He&rsquo;s been very very engaged with the sheriffs out here and with me on the issue of the border,&rdquo; said David Rhodes, the sheriff of Yavapai County, who is a Republican. &ldquo;I would say he has advocated for more border security, more resources &mdash; he&rsquo;s been a supporter of public safety. He and I are in different parties, but he&rsquo;s done very well as far as I can tell.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>While Yavapai County encompasses an area in the center of the Grand Canyon State that is not directly on the border, Rhodes emphasizes that his community is directly affected by the high levels of unauthorized migration.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Washington Examiner reporter Samantha-Jo Roth interviews Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ) during a campaign stop in Yuma in October 2022. (Amy DeLaura, Washington Examiner)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>&ldquo;Half of the fentanyl seized in the entire nation for the last three years has been seized right here in the state of Arizona, and it&rsquo;s a major problem for all these Northern Arizona counties,&rdquo; he explained.<\/p>\n<p>Kelly has spoken out against some of the Biden administration&rsquo;s border policies, particularly during his 2022 Senate campaign. The Arizona senator <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/2872411\/mark-kelly-says-arizonans-are-sick-of-border-crisis\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>slammed<\/a> Biden&rsquo;s decision to end Title 42, a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/biden-stops-bike-ride-to-pat-himself-on-the-back-and-insult-americans\/\" title=\"Biden halts bike ride to praise himself and offend Americans.\">pandemic-era policy instituted<\/a> during the Trump administration that allowed officials to turn away immigrants in the name of public health. The move had curtailed immigrants&rsquo; ability to seek asylum at the southern border.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;The administration has at times made some decisions that are not helpful to Arizona. I call the president out on it,&rdquo; Kelly said in an interview with the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em> in October 2022 ahead of a campaign stop in Yuma, a city near the U.S.-Mexico border.<\/p>\n<p>Kelly, who resides in Tucson, a town that is only 60 miles away from the international border, has not been as critical of Biden&rsquo;s border policies since his re-election campaign. Kelly came out in support of Biden&rsquo;s plan in June when the administration <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/immigration\/3083951\/border-arrests-drop-june-lowest-ever-biden\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>rolled out asylum restrictions<\/a> at the border, and ever since arrests for illegal crossings have decreased.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Senator Kelly is a big voice in Washington, and he&rsquo;s well known here in Arizona, and he certainly could be influential the more that he spoke out about it,&rdquo; Rhodes said. &ldquo;To be fair, he has worked behind the scenes. I know because we&rsquo;ve had conversations; he&rsquo;s had a lot of conversations with law enforcement about what was needed and whatnot, but he probably could be more helpful.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Since Biden made his exit and endorsed Harris, the vice president has not spoken out about the crisis on the southern border and her role on immigration policy, which is now in the spotlight.<\/p>\n<p>Speaking with the <em>Washington Examiner <\/em>on Thursday, Kelly said he&rsquo;d encourage Harris to remind voters of a<a href=\"https:\/\/www.appropriations.senate.gov\/imo\/media\/doc\/emergency_national_security_supplemental_bill_text.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title> bipartisan compromise bill <\/a>that Sens. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/james-lankford\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>James Lankford (R-OK)<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/kyrsten-sinema\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ)<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/chris-murphy\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>Chris Murphy (D-CT)<\/a> and officials from the White House out together in February, but ultimately <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/2843032\/bipartisan-border-ukraine-deal-fails-senate\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>died under political pressure<\/a> from Trump.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;ve spoken with the administration, about the border, a number of times and helped develop the legislation,&rdquo; Kelly said. &ldquo;We put forward the bipartisan legislation that would go a good ways to try and fix this border crisis. Unfortunately, you know, what happened was our Republican colleagues walked away from it and it had so many good things in there.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;When Kamala Harris is the next president of the United States, you know, we are going to take a look at passing legislation again and we&rsquo;re not going to have the issue of the former President trying to kill it in the United States Senate ahead of time,&rdquo; Kelly added.<\/p>\n<p>Arizona Democrats are firmly behind Kelly. The state party&rsquo;s executive board on Wednesday <a href=\"https:\/\/www.azcentral.com\/story\/news\/politics\/elections\/2024\/07\/24\/az-dems-heap-praise-on-kelly-say-vp-decision-should-be-up-to-harris\/74534740007\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>endorsed Kelly<\/a> to be the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/kamala-harris-backed-bail-fund-freed-alleged-domestic-abuser-now-accused-of-murder\/\" title=\"Kamala Harris-Backed Bail Fund Freed Alleged Domestic Abuser Now Accused Of Murder\">vice presidential nominee<\/a>. Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), who is running for Arizona&rsquo;s other Senate seat, which is being vacated by Sinema also made the case for Kelly, saying he would add a &ldquo;jolt&rdquo; to the ticket.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I think it would be great for Democrats across the country to have someone who is a border state senator, understands border issues, is an astronaut married to Gabby Giffords, it&rsquo;s all a good combination right there,&rdquo; Gallego said, speaking to <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/mkraju\/status\/1816215470334153154\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>CNN <\/a>on Wednesday.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>A new <a href=\"https:\/\/today.yougov.com\/politics\/articles\/50144-harris-vs-trump-americans-evaluate-personality-and-policy\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>YouGov poll published <\/a>on Monday showed voters viewed Trump as better than Harris at handling immigration and was ahead by 15 points. The poll was completed in the days ahead of Biden&rsquo;s announcement to step down. Immigration also topped <a href=\"https:\/\/news.gallup.com\/poll\/644570\/immigration-named-top-problem-third-straight-month.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>polling consistently <\/a>as a top problem facing the country.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Republicans should only be talking about the border and the economy &mdash; those are the two weakest issues for Democrats,&rdquo; Barrett Marson, a longtime Republican strategist in Arizona, said. &ldquo;The images of immigrants crossing the border not that long ago, these are going to be used a lot over the next three or four months.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;The border is a deep vulnerability for the Democratic ticket, whether Mark Kelly is in it or not,&rdquo; Marson added. &ldquo;Mark Kelly can speak a bit more intelligently and with some experience of being a senator of a border state, but I&rsquo;m not sure that he&rsquo;s been a hawk on the border. So this issue isn&rsquo;t going away.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ) campaigns during a stop in Yuma in October 2022. (Samantha-Jo Roth\/ Washington Examiner)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Kelly has long had an appeal with Republicans and has been seen as more centrist in a state where the Republican Party is still divided between those who align behind the legacy of the late Sen. John McCain and Trump loyalists. His seat once belonged to the iconic senator and he <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/626955\/campaigns-brace-for-delayed-election-results-in-tight-arizona-senate-race\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>brought it up often <\/a>when campaigning last cycle.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;It has been the honor of my life to represent Arizona in the U.S. Senate, and by the way, in John McCain&rsquo;s senate seat. That&rsquo;s a big deal for me. Here&rsquo;s a guy I looked up to when I was first in the Navy. To be able to sit at his desk every day in Washington is a big deal for me,&rdquo; Kelly said to voters at a campaign stop in October 2022.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Kelly has already gone up a candidate cut in the same mold as GOP vice presidential nominee Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH) in his previous Senate challenger, Blake Masters. Both Vance and Masters won their primary elections in 2022 with the backing of billionaire <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/peter-thiel\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>Peter Thiel<\/a>, who put tens of millions of dollars into super PACs for each candidate. Vance is a former employee of Thiel&rsquo;s Mithril Capital, and Masters also ran the Thiel Foundation and served as the COO at Thiel Capital.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;A benefit of Kelly is he has within the last couple years has defeated a Vance-like MAGA candidate. Masters and Vance are kind of the same,&rdquo; Marson said.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Kelly&rsquo;s wife, Giffords, is already getting a head start going on offense against Vance who has recently been at the center of a firestorm over his <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/politics\/3097594\/the-view-takes-offense-vances-childless-cat-ladies-comment-how-dare-you\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>resurfaced remarks<\/a> that the country was being run by &ldquo;childless cat ladies.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Vice President <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/KamalaHarris?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@KamalaHarris<\/a> is a proud mom of two remarkable stepchildren&mdash;and so am I. <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/CaptMarkKelly?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@CaptMarkKelly<\/a> and I were trying to have a baby through IVF before I was shot and that dream was stolen from us. To suggest we are somehow lesser is disgraceful. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/1dKzHkBx0M\">https:\/\/t.co\/1dKzHkBx0M<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Gabrielle Giffords (@GabbyGiffords) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/GabbyGiffords\/status\/1816625196331352545?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">July 26, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script> <\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p>Giffords spoke out on social media, slamming his comments. Giffords and Kelly have previously opened up about their heartbreak at not having children after the 2011 shooting where she almost lost her life.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Vice President <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/KamalaHarris\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>@KamalaHarris<\/a> is a proud mom of two remarkable stepchildren&mdash;and so am I,&rdquo; Giffords wrote on X. &ldquo;<a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/CaptMarkKelly\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>@CaptMarkKelly<\/a> and I were trying to have a baby through IVF before I was shot and that dream was stolen from us. To suggest we are somehow lesser is disgraceful.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p> <script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_1714682\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"1714682\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Kelly may serve as a crucial asset for Democrats to mitigate the criticism directed at Vice President Kamala Harris regarding her role as the &#8216;border czar.&#8217; As Harris and her team evaluate potential running mates following President Joe Biden&#8217;s exit from the 2024 race, Senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ) is gaining attention for his ability to address one of Harris&#8217;s significant vulnerabilities: the administration&#8217;s management of the border crisis. Sources indicate that Kelly is currently being considered by Harris&#8217;s team. A former Navy pilot and NASA astronaut from a working-class background in New Jersey, the Arizona senator boasts an impressive resume, further enhanced by his strong advocacy against gun violence after his wife, former Representative Gabrielle Giffords, survived an assassination attempt during a mass shooting in 2011. However, his deep understanding of U.S.-Mexico border politics, stemming from his position as a senator in a battleground state with multiple border crossings, could be one of his greatest assets. <\/p>\n<p>Stacy Pearson, a Democratic strategist in Arizona, noted, \u201cHaving someone who comprehends the importance of enhancing technology, increasing Border Patrol personnel, and improving vetting processes\u2014these are all areas where Sen. Kelly has personal insight. This is his community.\u201d <\/p>\n<p>With Kelly under consideration for the vice presidency, a reminder of a past reporting trip to Arizona in 2022 highlights his firsthand experience with the border crisis. <\/p>\n<p>Republicans are already strategizing to remind voters that Biden appointed Harris to oversee the administration&#8217;s response to the surge of migrants at the U.S. border in March 2021. The increasing border crossings eventually became a significant political liability for the Biden administration, reaching historic levels. Recently, the House voted to condemn Harris for her role as the &#8216;border czar,&#8217; citing the administration&#8217;s &#8220;failure to secure the southern border&#8221; amid record-high illegal immigration. The resolution passed with a vote of 220-196, as GOP lawmakers aim to link the vice president to some of the Biden administration&#8217;s most unpopular policies as she pursues the presidency. <\/p>\n<p>Republicans are also revisiting comments Harris made during the previous election cycle, where she stated that being an illegal immigrant should not be considered a criminal offense, a sentiment she reiterated during a 2019 primary debate when she expressed support for decriminalizing illegal border crossings. <\/p>\n<p>However, Kelly could offer a unique perspective on border issues that other Democratic candidates being considered for the vice presidential role may lack, a point acknowledged even by some Republicans in the state. David Rhodes, the Republican sheriff of Yavapai County, remarked, \u201cHe\u2019s been very engaged with local sheriffs and me regarding border issues. I would say he has advocated for increased border security and resources\u2014he\u2019s been a supporter of public safety. Although we belong to different parties, he\u2019s done well in this regard.\u201d <\/p>\n<p>While Yavapai County is not directly on the border, Rhodes emphasized that his community is significantly impacted by high levels of unauthorized migration. He noted that \u201chalf of the fentanyl seized in the entire nation over the last three years has been confiscated right here in Arizona, which is a major issue for Northern Arizona counties.\u201d <\/p>\n<p>Kelly has previously criticized some of the Biden administration&#8217;s border policies, particularly during his 2022 Senate campaign, where he condemned Biden&#8217;s decision to end Title 42, a pandemic-era policy that allowed officials to deny entry to immigrants for public health reasons, which had limited asylum seekers&#8217; access at the southern border. In an interview with the Washington Examiner in October 2022, Kelly stated, \u201cThe administration has made some decisions that are not beneficial to Arizona. I\u2019ve called the president out on it.\u201d <\/p>\n<p>Since his re-election campaign, Kelly has not been as critical of Biden&#8217;s border policies. He supported Biden&#8217;s plan in June when the administration introduced asylum restrictions at the border, which subsequently led to a decrease in arrests for illegal crossings. Rhodes commented, \u201cSenator Kelly is a significant voice in Washington, well-known in Arizona, and could be influential if he spoke out more. He has worked behind the scenes, having numerous discussions with law enforcement about what is needed, but he could be more helpful.\u201d <\/p>\n<p>Since Biden&#8217;s withdrawal and endorsement of Harris, the vice president has not publicly addressed the southern border crisis or her role in immigration policy, which is now under scrutiny. In a conversation with the Washington Examiner on Thursday, Kelly expressed that he would encourage Harris to remind voters of a bipartisan compromise bill that Senators James Lankford (R-OK), Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ), Chris Murphy (D-CT), and White House officials proposed in February, which ultimately failed due to political pressure from Trump. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019ve discussed border issues with the administration multiple times and contributed to the legislation,\u201d Kelly stated. \u201cWe proposed bipartisan legislation that could have significantly addressed the border crisis. Unfortunately, our Republican colleagues abandoned it despite its many positive aspects.\u201d <\/p>\n<p>Kelly added, \u201cWhen Kamala Harris becomes the next president of the United States, we will revisit passing legislation, and we won\u2019t have to contend with the former President trying to undermine it in the Senate beforehand.\u201d <\/p>\n<p>Arizona Democrats are solidly backing Kelly, with the state party&#8217;s executive board endorsing him as the vice presidential nominee on Wednesday. Representative Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), who is campaigning for Arizona\u2019s other Senate seat being vacated by Sinema, also advocated for Kelly, stating he would bring a \u201cjolt\u201d to the ticket. \u201cHaving a border state senator who understands border issues, along with being an astronaut married to Gabby Giffords, creates a strong combination,\u201d Gallego remarked to CNN on Wednesday. <\/p>\n<p>A recent YouGov poll released on Monday indicated that voters perceive Trump as more capable than Harris in handling immigration, with Trump leading by 15 points. This poll was conducted just before Biden announced his decision to step down. Immigration consistently ranks as a top concern among voters. <\/p>\n<p>Barrett Marson, a veteran Republican strategist in Arizona, noted, \u201cRepublicans should focus solely on the border and the economy\u2014these are the two weakest issues for Democrats. The images of immigrants crossing the border from not long ago will be heavily utilized in the coming months.\u201d <\/p>\n<p>Marson added, \u201cThe border remains a significant vulnerability for the Democratic ticket, regardless of whether Mark Kelly is part of it. While Kelly can articulate the issue more intelligently and has the experience of being a senator from a border state, I\u2019m not convinced he has taken a hardline stance on border security. This issue is not going away.\u201d <\/p>\n<p>Kelly has historically appealed to Republicans and is viewed as more centrist in a state where the GOP remains divided between supporters of the late Senator John McCain and Trump loyalists. His Senate seat was once held by the iconic McCain, a fact he frequently referenced during his previous campaign. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt has been the honor of my life to represent Arizona in the U.S. Senate, and to do so in John McCain\u2019s seat is a significant deal for me. He was someone I admired during my time in the Navy. Sitting at his desk every day in Washington is a big deal,\u201d Kelly told voters during a campaign event in October 2022. <\/p>\n<p>Kelly has already faced candidates similar to GOP vice presidential nominee Senator J.D. Vance (R-OH) in his previous Senate challenger, Blake Masters. Both Vance and Masters won their primary elections in 2022 with the support of billionaire Peter Thiel, who invested millions into super PACs for each candidate. Vance previously worked for Thiel\u2019s Mithril Capital, while Masters managed the Thiel Foundation and served as COO at Thiel Capital. <\/p>\n<p>Marson noted, \u201cA benefit for Kelly is that he has recently defeated a candidate akin to Vance. Masters and Vance are quite similar.\u201d <\/p>\n<p>Kelly\u2019s wife, Giffords, has already begun to counter Vance, who has recently faced backlash for his controversial remarks suggesting the country is run by \u201cchildless cat ladies.\u201d Giffords took to social media to criticize his comments, stating, \u201cVice President @KamalaHarris is a proud mom of two remarkable stepchildren\u2014and so am I. @CaptMarkKelly and I were trying to have a baby through IVF before I was shot, and that dream was stolen from us. To suggest we are somehow lesser is disgraceful.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2657,"featured_media":2309864,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Mark-Kelly-Senate-July-2024-scaled-1024x682.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[538],"tags":[3685,35898,5894,36413],"class_list":["post-2309860","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-washington-examiner","tag-democrats","tag-mark-kelly","tag-politics","tag-secret-weapon"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Mark-Kelly-Senate-July-2024-scaled-1024x682.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2309860","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2657"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2309860"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2309860\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2309864"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2309860"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2309860"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2309860"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}