Skincare company executive Daniel McCarthy recently teased that he’d reached a "conclusion of the Due Diligence process" as he mulled whether he should challenge appointed Sen. Martha McSally in Arizona’s GOP primary, and he told supporters on Wednesday evening that he … was still deciding. That’s not what “conclusion” means, dude.
What McCarthy did announce was that he’ll embark on a statewide listening tour, which is apparently a whole other stage than his “Due Diligence process.” McCarthy seems content to drag this out as long as possible, since he said, “There is a sense of urgency for me to make a decision here which I don't have. I'm going to take as much time as I need with my family, I'm going to take as much time as I need with my businesses, and we're going to enjoy this process.” Arizona’s filing deadline isn’t until early April, so McCarthy can indeed spend a whole lot of time enjoying this process.
McCarthy was a key Donald Trump financial backer in 2016, and McSally and her allies at the NRSC got wind that he was considering challenging her a few months ago. Politico reported in June that national Republicans launched a “flurry of efforts” to convince Trump to endorse her, which he soon did.
The NRSC reportedly has also compiled some opposition research against McCarthy to try and deter him from running. McCarthy acknowledged to this on Wednesday when he declared that national Republicans were digging up information on his business and personal life, saying, “The establishment are bullies,” but insisting, “Frankly, they may have pushed me a little too hard ... I'm not intimidated.”
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