It's the most expensive race in Arizona history -- already.
For the Senate seat held by GOP for 50 years, from Goldwater to McCain, w/ @kaitlin_purcia @MattWargo.
Thread Below --> Extended clips from my interviews with @CaptMarkKelly & @SenMcSallyAZ.
msnbc.com/kasie-dc/watch…
For the Senate seat held by GOP for 50 years, from Goldwater to McCain, w/ @kaitlin_purcia @MattWargo.
Thread Below --> Extended clips from my interviews with @CaptMarkKelly & @SenMcSallyAZ.
msnbc.com/kasie-dc/watch…
NBC: "A member of Congress who you think you most identify with?”
.@CaptMarkKelly: "...John McCain...example of how you would serve your nation in a very difficult & challenging moment. He was a guy I looked up to & then later, I got to meet him & eventually call him a friend."
.@CaptMarkKelly: "...John McCain...example of how you would serve your nation in a very difficult & challenging moment. He was a guy I looked up to & then later, I got to meet him & eventually call him a friend."
NBC: What went wrong in AZ with COVID?
@CaptMarkKelly: "We need a national plan. I mean, we don't have it...the president was thanking China & thanking them for their transparency. He even thanked them on behalf of the American people. Senator McSally said nothing."
@CaptMarkKelly: "We need a national plan. I mean, we don't have it...the president was thanking China & thanking them for their transparency. He even thanked them on behalf of the American people. Senator McSally said nothing."
NBC: Why should voters here not give [McSally] a second look?
@CaptMarkKelly: "As I've watched her service in the U.S. House and the United States Senate, I see somebody who votes with her party most of the time & who is incredibly partisan.”
@CaptMarkKelly: "As I've watched her service in the U.S. House and the United States Senate, I see somebody who votes with her party most of the time & who is incredibly partisan.”
NBC: AZ voters considering Joe Biden?
@CaptMarkKelly: "I think Joe Biden clearly has the leadership and the experience...I think he's a much better option to try to lead us out of this over the next 4 years. So I would encourage those individuals to vote for Joe Biden."
@CaptMarkKelly: "I think Joe Biden clearly has the leadership and the experience...I think he's a much better option to try to lead us out of this over the next 4 years. So I would encourage those individuals to vote for Joe Biden."
NBC: When did you consider running?
@CaptMarkKelly: "Night before the election in 2018 & this young woman came up to me. She said, 'Hey, my son has Down syndrome & I'm terrified that he's gonna lose his health insurance. Would you please consider running for the U.S. Senate?’”
@CaptMarkKelly: "Night before the election in 2018 & this young woman came up to me. She said, 'Hey, my son has Down syndrome & I'm terrified that he's gonna lose his health insurance. Would you please consider running for the U.S. Senate?’”
NBC: Trump tweeted this week that NASA 'closed & dead' before him.
@CaptMarkKelly: "The launch we just saw...been in the works for a decade, not over the last three years. These things take time..."
NBC: Was NASA closed and dead?
Kelly: "Of course not."
@CaptMarkKelly: "The launch we just saw...been in the works for a decade, not over the last three years. These things take time..."
NBC: Was NASA closed and dead?
Kelly: "Of course not."
NBC: To what extent...bear responsibility for World View falling short of intended impact in Pima County?
@CaptMarkKelly: "...created these high paying jobs & will continue to grow in the future...it's hard to start a company..."
NBC: Any letdown?
Kelly: "Of course not."
@CaptMarkKelly: "...created these high paying jobs & will continue to grow in the future...it's hard to start a company..."
NBC: Any letdown?
Kelly: "Of course not."
NBC: Are you concerned about [Tencent Holdings] investment in a U.S. company like this one that you're invested in--?
@CaptMarkKelly: "Absolutely not. I mean, World View does business with DOD, NASA, DARPA, universities. They're not concerned. So l--it's not an issue."
@CaptMarkKelly: "Absolutely not. I mean, World View does business with DOD, NASA, DARPA, universities. They're not concerned. So l--it's not an issue."
NBC: McSally ads connecting you & China?
@CaptMarkKelly: "My response is that's what she just did in 2018....I've been dealing with the Chinese, operationally, since the late 1980s. I flew 39 combat missions in Operation Desert Storm. I served our country in space."
@CaptMarkKelly: "My response is that's what she just did in 2018....I've been dealing with the Chinese, operationally, since the late 1980s. I flew 39 combat missions in Operation Desert Storm. I served our country in space."
NBC: McSally challenged you to 7 debates?
@CaptMarkKelly: "I don't have a number...of course we're going to debate. And it's important for the voters to know where we stand on the issues."
Kelly's preview of the issues he intends to draw contrasts with McSally on:
@CaptMarkKelly: "I don't have a number...of course we're going to debate. And it's important for the voters to know where we stand on the issues."
Kelly's preview of the issues he intends to draw contrasts with McSally on:
NBC: @GabbyGiffords...what do you take away from her experience to this run now?
@CaptMarkKelly: "I would say to work hard, be positive, be optimistic. This is the greatest country in the history of the planet. We can solve hard problems. But we got to do it together as a team."
@CaptMarkKelly: "I would say to work hard, be positive, be optimistic. This is the greatest country in the history of the planet. We can solve hard problems. But we got to do it together as a team."
NBC: How has @kyrstensinema represented the state in her first two years?
@CaptMarkKelly: "She's given me great advice. And I think she's done a good job, a very good job representing Arizona in an independent way, working across the aisle to get things done."
@CaptMarkKelly: "She's given me great advice. And I think she's done a good job, a very good job representing Arizona in an independent way, working across the aisle to get things done."
.@MarthaMcSally on what led her to this moment:
"I channeled my feistiness in a positive way. I got there...I found out that just because I was a girl, I couldn't be a fighter pilot...I was just so blessed to be able to lead the way and break those barriers for women and girls."
"I channeled my feistiness in a positive way. I got there...I found out that just because I was a girl, I couldn't be a fighter pilot...I was just so blessed to be able to lead the way and break those barriers for women and girls."
.@SenMcSallyAZ on her lawsuit against having to wear abaya while serving in Saudi Arabia:
"I ended up suing Donald Rumsfeld. Martha McSally versus Donald Rumsfeld...In the end, I got a law passed, as a civilian, to overturn these policies once and for all."
"I ended up suing Donald Rumsfeld. Martha McSally versus Donald Rumsfeld...In the end, I got a law passed, as a civilian, to overturn these policies once and for all."
.@MarthaMcSally making her case for her record in Congress: "You have to get it through the House, the Senate & signed by the president...where does the Venn Diagram overlap? You know, we know where people disagree. But where can we find that common ground and fix the problem?"
.@MarthaMcSally asserts this as a repercussion of a Democratic Senate:
"They're going to make D.C. & Puerto Rico a state & get 4 new Democrat Senators. We'd never get the Senate back again. And look, this is just the implications of this seat, the implications of this vote."
"They're going to make D.C. & Puerto Rico a state & get 4 new Democrat Senators. We'd never get the Senate back again. And look, this is just the implications of this seat, the implications of this vote."
NBC: In Arizona, not only do you need to pull off more Independent support, but also President Trump does? What needs to take place for that to happen?
@MarthaMcSally: "I'll let you prognosticators figure that out."
@MarthaMcSally: "I'll let you prognosticators figure that out."
NBC: Why should folks here in AZ believe you are independent of President Trump?
@MarthaMcSally: I would just ask them what to look at my record.
//
NBC: You have stood by him on major issues & not been outspoken critical voice?
McSally: That sounds like a media narrative.
@MarthaMcSally: I would just ask them what to look at my record.
//
NBC: You have stood by him on major issues & not been outspoken critical voice?
McSally: That sounds like a media narrative.
NBC: Have you urged admin to back out of Obamacare lawsuit?
@MarthaMcSally does not say she has.
"I am committed to protecting people w/ preexisting conditions. We just have to bring the cost down..asking them to trust [me]."
Also says she does not support gov't public option.
@MarthaMcSally does not say she has.
"I am committed to protecting people w/ preexisting conditions. We just have to bring the cost down..asking them to trust [me]."
Also says she does not support gov't public option.
NBC: Why not @CaptMarkKelly?
@MarthaMcSally: "My opponent is trying to pretend he's not a Democrat. You want to run as an Independent? Run as an Indep. He's trying to pretend he's not with the radical left agenda that his party is peddling--that is out of step with Arizonans."
@MarthaMcSally: "My opponent is trying to pretend he's not a Democrat. You want to run as an Independent? Run as an Indep. He's trying to pretend he's not with the radical left agenda that his party is peddling--that is out of step with Arizonans."
NBC: What went wrong w/ the admin's handling of pandemic?
@MarthaMcSally: "Once-in-a-century pandemic. This is not goin' away anytime soon..."
NBC: Admin make misstep?
McSally: "Of course they did--just like everybody does. When we go into combat, everybody isn't perfect."
@MarthaMcSally: "Once-in-a-century pandemic. This is not goin' away anytime soon..."
NBC: Admin make misstep?
McSally: "Of course they did--just like everybody does. When we go into combat, everybody isn't perfect."
NBC: To individuals here who are considering voting for President Trump, what would you tell them?
@MarthaMcSally: "Do you want to continue to have freedoms & opportunities & innovation in America & lower taxes & security? Then vote for us."
@MarthaMcSally: "Do you want to continue to have freedoms & opportunities & innovation in America & lower taxes & security? Then vote for us."
NBC: Why do you think you are where you are in the polls right now?
@MarthaMcSally: "I'll just tell you this is a dead-heat election. Don't be fooled by any of the public polls out there...Chuck Schumer's gonna have to pry that Senate majority out of my cold, dead hands."
@MarthaMcSally: "I'll just tell you this is a dead-heat election. Don't be fooled by any of the public polls out there...Chuck Schumer's gonna have to pry that Senate majority out of my cold, dead hands."
