Vulnerable GOP Sen. Martha McSally says she can't afford to fight Democrat Mark Kelly's attack ads


A free daily digest of the biggest news stories of the day - and the best features from our website
Thank you for signing up to TheWeek. You will receive a verification email shortly.
There was a problem. Please refresh the page and try again.
Sen. Martha McSally (R-Ariz.) is falling behind in campaign fundraising — not that she'll say it too loud.
McSally is currently facing a strong challenge from Mark Kelly, a Democrat, astronaut, and husband of former Rep. Gabby Giffords (D-Ariz.). But if she were to counter Kelly's bid with a TV ad, "my campaign coffers would be empty," she told supporters at a closed-door meeting in December, the Arizona Mirror reports.
A recent TV ad from by a group called Advancing AZ attacked McSally for her vote in favor of a new Trump administration health care rule, saying the rule is at odds with her promise to preserve health care for people with pre-existing conditions. "Look, the attack ads are a lie," McSally said in December when asked about them at the conversation with Republican voters. But "we don't have the resources to fight," McSally continued. "If I went up on TV right now, my campaign coffers would be empty. If we're going to fight back with a TV ad, it's going to cost us millions of dollars."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Kelly has so far outraised McSally, so at the meeting, McSally said she wants "conservative outside groups" to pitch in and "start muddying up the landscape a little bit." "We can't talk to them. We can't invite them, but we pray for them every day," McSally said of the outside fundraisers.
McSally also narrowly lost Arizona's 2018 Senate race to Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (D), but was appointed to the late Sen. John McCain's spot after former Sen. Jon Kyl (R) filled it for a few months.
Continue reading for free
We hope you're enjoying The Week's refreshingly open-minded journalism.
Subscribed to The Week? Register your account with the same email as your subscription.
Sign up to our 10 Things You Need to Know Today newsletter
A free daily digest of the biggest news stories of the day - and the best features from our website
Kathryn is a graduate of Syracuse University, with degrees in magazine journalism and information technology, along with hours to earn another degree after working at SU's independent paper The Daily Orange. She's currently recovering from a horse addiction while living in New York City, and likes to share her extremely dry sense of humor on Twitter.
-
The ethnic conflict plaguing the Nagorno-Karabakh region
The Explainer Thousands of ethnic Armenians have begun fleeing the territory out of fear of persecution
By Justin Klawans Published
-
Rebuilding Ukraine: what would it take?
In Depth Russia continues to raze large sections of Ukraine, but that gives Kyiv a unique opening to build a better country — if somebody is willing to pay
By Peter Weber Published
-
Pros and cons of the International Baccalaureate
Pros and Cons IB offers a more holistic education and international outlook but puts specialists looking to study in the UK at a disadvantage
By The Week Staff Published
-
Exodus begins from Burning Man after desert mud trapped tens of thousands
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
'Margaritaville' singer Jimmy Buffett dies at 76
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
American Airlines suing website that offers tickets via price loopholes
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
Federal agencies investigating near miss between Southwest jet and private plane
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
'Euphoria' star Angus Cloud dies at 25
Speed Read
By Catherine Garcia Published
-
Pee-wee Herman actor Paul Reubens dies at 70
Speed Read
By Brendan Morrow Published
-
Trader Joe's recalls 4 products in a week amid reports of rocks and insects inside food
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
Emmys to be postponed for first time since after 9/11 due to strikes
Speed Read
By Brendan Morrow Published