2 weeks ago
LAS VEGAS – What is expected to beryllium 1 of this year's astir intimately watched Senate races has shape-shifted into a one-sided slugfest for nan Republican information arsenic a well-funded erstwhile Trump charismatic continues his relentless onslaught against nan nationalist party-backed candidate.
Dr. Jeffrey Gunter, who served arsenic erstwhile President Trump's ambassador to Iceland, made waves successful Nevada past period erstwhile he announced a multimillion-dollar ramp up of his Senate campaign, causing heartburn for nationalist Republicans who had already thrown their support down erstwhile U.S. Army Captain Sam Brown.
Gunter touts himself arsenic "the MAGA guy" and "110% pro-Donald Trump" and is making a imaginable endorsement from nan erstwhile president a cardinal facet successful his effort to overtake Brown, whome he calls "Scam Brown," and accuses of being a "Never Trumper."
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Former U.S. Ambassador to Iceland Jeff Gunter and erstwhile U.S. Army serviceman Sam Brown. (State Department; Sam Brown for Nevada)
"Nevada voters merit truthful, honest, straightforward politicians. … I'm nan MAGA guy. I'm 110% pro-Donald Trump. That's who I am," Gunter told Fox News Digital successful an interview.
"The reality is Sam Brown, Scam Brown, immoderate you want to telephone him … he's a Mitch guy. He's a Nikki guy. That's who he's beholden to. I'm only beholden to 1 group, and that's nan Nevada voters," he said, referencing Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and erstwhile U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, Republicans who person often surgery pinch Trump connected various issues.
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Brown, however, avoided straight engaging pinch Gunter while speaking pinch Fox News Digital complete nan play and has attempted to support his attraction connected incumbent Democratic Sen. Jacky Rosen, arsenic good arsenic President Biden.
"Look, my grounds has been clear. I've been connected nan run way efficaciously for nan past 3 years," Brown said, alluding to his unsuccessful bid for nan Republican information for Senate against Adam Laxalt successful 2022.
"I person been consistent. My issues person ne'er changed. I americium a pro-America First candidate, and I americium highly conservative. What different candidates do is conscionable an denotation of really hopeless group are," he added, not mentioning Gunter by name.
Former President Trump, a Republican statesmanlike candidate, leaves Trump Tower to be his proceedings for allegedly covering up hush money payments linked to extramarital affairs successful New York April 22, 2024. (Charly Triballeau/AFP via Getty Images)
Brown described his run arsenic an "indictment" against Rosen and Biden, saying their policies had not served Nevadans well, and, successful opposition to Gunter's statement that he is simply a "Never Trumper," defended nan erstwhile president concerning his ongoing proceedings successful New York City.
"It seems to beryllium motivating group to get engaged, to sound their concerns, and, frankly, to spot that Trump is taking power connected their behalf," he said. "A batch of this didn't commencement until he announced he was moving for re-election, and I do expect that it will play a portion successful driving group to participate successful voting this year."
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Gunter pushed backmost erstwhile asked astir Brown's "desperate" comment, arguing he was trying to meet nan desire of Nevadans to person "truthful politicians," a jab astatine Brown's standoffish attack to Trump earlier yet endorsing his bid for nan White House successful January.
Gunter, likewise, blasted nan Trump proceedings arsenic "election interference," and praised nan erstwhile president's grounds while successful office, a communal taxable connected nan run way arsenic he continues to activity his endorsement successful nan race.
Despite mostly keeping his attraction connected Rosen, Brown has besides made it a constituent to applaud Trump while connected nan way and has been proactive successful seeking nan erstwhile president's endorsement.
Former U.S. Army Captain Sam Brown, a Republican campaigner for U.S. Senate successful Nevada, speaks pinch supporters astatine nan opening of a caller run agency successful Reno April 27, 2024. (Brandon Gillespie/Fox News)
In a caller interview pinch Fox News' Laura Ingraham, he praised Trump's "America First vision" arsenic nan logic he "enthusiastically" voted for nan erstwhile president, and, nan aforesaid week, visited Mar-a-Lago to effort and unafraid his support, according to a study by CNN.
Additionally, Kristy Wilkinson, Brown's run communications director, told Fox News Digital he "would beryllium thrilled to person President Donald J. Trump's endorsement."
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"He is nan astir powerful endorsement successful politics, and Sam greatly appreciates each that President Trump is doing to prevention our country," Wilkinson said.
Brown is nan only battleground Republican Senate campaigner backed by nan National Republican Senatorial Committee not to person Trump's endorsement.
It's unclear why Trump has yet to endorse successful nan race, but pro-Gunter and pro-Brown sources each expressed assurance to Fox that nan erstwhile president's backing is good wrong reach.
Sen. Jacky Rosen speaks June 16, 2023, astatine nan East Vegas Library successful Las Vegas. (Madeline Carter/Las Vegas Review-Journal/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
Aside from nan rhetoric surrounding Trump, some candidates reason they're nan only 1 who tin return connected Rosen and flip nan spot for Republicans, who person struggled to nutrient wins successful nan Silver State successful caller predetermination cycles. According to nan Rosen campaign, that's acold from a foregone conclusion.
"Jacky Rosen has been classed 1 of nan astir bipartisan and effective senators successful nan federation because of her proven grounds of governmental independency and her activity crossed statement lines to present for Nevada," Rosen run spokesperson Johanna Warshaw told Fox News Digital.
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"While utmost MAGA Republicans are engaged tearing each different down successful a divisive and costly primary, Sen. Rosen is focused connected communicating straight to voters astir nan activity she’s doing to conflict for Nevadans."
Little polling has been done connected nan title to bespeak a clear leader successful nan Republican primary. However, Brown maintains a fundraising advantage and, successful nan fewer polls that person been conducted, appears to airs much of a situation to Rosen than his GOP opponents, including Gunter, veteran Air Force aviator Tony Grady and erstwhile authorities Assemblyman Jim Marchant.
Elections analysts complaint nan title arsenic either a toss-up, "tilt Democratic" aliases "lean Democratic."
The primaries will beryllium held Tuesday, June 11.
Get nan latest updates from nan 2024 run trail, exclusive interviews and much astatine our Fox News Digital predetermination hub
Brandon Gillespie is an subordinate editor astatine Fox News. Follow him connected X astatine @BGillespieAL.
