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Dems thrust Kari Lake, McCain feud into spotlight as crucial Senate battle heats up: ‘NO PEACE, B—-!’

Dems thrust Kari Lake, McCain feud into spotlight as crucial Senate battle heats up: ‘NO PEACE, B—-!’

FIRST ON FOX: Democrats are going on the offensive in what is expected to be one of the most closely watched Senate races this year as they look to block the likely Republican nominee’s efforts to secure the support of independent and moderate GOP voters in Arizona. A new ad launched Tuesday by the Senate Majority PAC — a group with close ties to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer aiming to protect and grow Democrats’ narrow majority in the Senate — highlights Republican Senate candidate Kari Lake’s past attacks aimed at the late Sen. John McCain, also a Republican, who represented the state from 1987 until his death in 2018. “We don’t have any McCain Republicans in here do we?” Lake, who unsuccessfully ran for Arizona governor, said in a video clip from a 2022 campaign speech included in the ad titled, “Haunt Her.” “Get the hell out,” Lake adds in the clip. NIKKI HALEY BETS IT ALL ON SUPER TUESDAY AFTER DISMAL PRIMARY NIGHT DOWN SOUTH Another clip included in the ad shows Lake saying she “drove a stake through the heart of the McCain machine,” while audio from reporters and commentators criticizing Lake over her comments is also heard. The ad ends with a clip of Meghan McCain, a conservative commentator and McCain’s daughter, saying of Lake, “She tweeted at me again today. The internal polling … must be just staggeringly awful … when it comes to Independents and McCain Republicans.” “And it’s why she can’t win Arizona,” McCain added. WATCH: TOP REPUBLICANS SHOWERED WITH BOOS FROM TRUMP VICTORY CROWD, PROMPTING JOKES FROM FORMER PRESIDENT The ad is part of a five-figure digital ad buy that will run across Arizona and comes less than a week after McCain lashed out at Lake on social media following the latter dismissing her previous attitude and comments toward McCain’s late father as jokes. “Kari Lake is trying to walk back her continued attacks on my Dad (& family) and all of his loyal supporters after telling them to ‘get the hell out.’ Guess she realized she can’t become a Senator without us. No peace, b—-. We see you for who you are – and are repulsed by it,” McCain wrote in a post on X. Lake responded to McCain in what appeared to be an attempt to make amends, but McCain simply repeated, “NO PEACE, B—-!” WATCH: TRUMP RALLYGOERS REVEAL WHOM THEY WANT AS VICE PRESIDENT “In 2022, McCain Republicans joined Democrats and Independents to reject Kari Lake’s brand of extremism,” Senate Majority PAC President JB Poersch told Fox News Digital. “Just because Lake landed Mitch McConnell and Steve Daines’ endorsements, doesn’t mean she gets to run away from her repeated insults against one of Arizona’s most beloved political figures and his supporters.” “This ad will remind voters that Kari Lake will say or do anything to get ahead, and that she has no place representing Arizona in the Senate,” he added. Although Lake has not been officially endorsed by Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, she has received the endorsement of the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC), the official campaign arm of Senate Republicans. “The Senate Majority PAC is about to become the Senate Minority PAC. They already have to come to Ruben’s defense because of Biden’s drag on the ticket and the wide open border, spending money this early because Gallego’s poll numbers are tanking,” a Lake campaign spokesperson told Fox News Digital, referencing Lake’s likely Democrat opponent in the race, Phoenix area Rep. Ruben Gallego. “Kari Lake is unifying Republicans in Arizona and will work to fix the problems created by Biden and Gallego. Ruben Gallego has yet to receive the endorsement of DSCC or Senator Mark Kelly because they know he is a toxic loser who left his wife when she was 9 months pregnant,” the spokesperson added. When asked for comment about the ad, NRSC spokesman Tate Mitchell attributed the effort to focus on Lake’s relationship with the McCains as an attempt by Gallego to distract from his own issues. “Ruben Gallego is desperately trying to change the subject after reports came out that he abandoned his wife when she was nearly nine months pregnant. Gallego also doesn’t want to discuss his support for Joe Biden’s open-border policies that led to illegal immigrants murdering Americans, assaulting police officers, and spreading deadly drugs throughout the country,” Mitchell told Fox. Another source pointed Fox to Gallego’s frequent attacks against John McCain while he was still serving as Arizona’s senator, including calling him “irrelevant,” and blasting him over his support for the war in Iraq and his position on immigration. The source also mentioned that the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, the official campaign arm of Senate Democrats, had yet to endorse Gallego. Get the latest updates from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more at our Fox News Digital election hub.

Nikki Haley says GOP becoming ‘playpen’ for Trump

Nikki Haley says GOP becoming ‘playpen’ for Trump

Presidential candidate Nikki Haley is warning the Republican Party that it is becoming former President Donald Trump’s “playpen.” Haley made the comments while speaking in Grand Rapids, Michigan, on the campaign trail following a brutal defeat in her home state of South Carolina.  “Look at what’s happening at the RNC. The idea that they would be choosing a chair and a director before a primary is over is a massive control move by Donald Trump,” Haley warned.  KOCH-BACKED NETWORK DROPS FUNDING FOR NIKKI HALEY CAMPAIGN AFTER SOUTH CAROLINA DEFEAT Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel will formally resign her position after the Super Tuesday primaries on March 5. The announcement comes weeks after Trump revealed his recommendations for changes within the RNC earlier this month. He proposed that North Carolina GOP chair Michael Whatley take over as chairman, while his daughter-in-law Lara Trump and campaign senior adviser Chris LaCivita also receive leadership positions. “The idea that there is a resolution out there in the RNC saying ‘Donald Trump can’t use [the RNC] for his legal slush fund’ – and he’s upset that that was proposed – tells you everything you need to know,” Haley continued.  DEMOCRATS REACT TO TRUMP GOP VICTORY IN SOUTH CAROLINA: ‘HE’S IN A WEAK POSITION’ Lara Trump told reporters earlier this month that “every single penny” would go to the campaign effort if she were appointed.  “Every single penny will go to the No. 1 and the only job of the RNC – that is electing Donald J. Trump as president of the United States and saving this country,” she added. “The idea that those now moving into the RNC are saying the RNC is only going to be about Donald Trump – you can hang up House, you can hang up Senate and the rest of the ticket,” Haley told the crowd at Grand Rapids. “Donald Trump is now turning the Republican Party into his own playpen.” Nearly 800 delegates are up for grabs on Super Tuesday, with over 150 at stake over the following two weeks. Among the states holding contests on Super Tuesday are delegate-rich California and Texas, while other big states like Florida, Illinois and Ohio will hold winner-take-all primaries on March 19. Polling in many of those states indicates Trump holds large leads over Haley. The Trump campaign predicted in its memo that the former president would secure the nomination on March 19, even under a “most generous model” for Haley. “Let’s see if it happens,” Haley quickly responded when asked by Fox News what she would do if Trump clinches the nomination next month. Fox News Digital’s Paul Steinhauser and Anders Hagstrom contributed to this report.

Kentucky Senate votes for nuclear energy development as coal industry declines

Kentucky Senate votes for nuclear energy development as coal industry declines

The Kentucky Senate voted overwhelmingly Monday to lay the foundation to attract nuclear energy projects to a state where coal has dominated and fueled the economy for generations. Republican Sen. Danny Carroll said Kentucky should embrace a cross-section of sources — including coal, natural gas and renewable energy — to meet its energy needs, but stressed that his legislation would prepare the Bluegrass State for what he sees as the inevitable surge of nuclear energy. “I believe that Kentucky needs to continue forward with an all-of-the-above approach,” he said. “However, I also firmly believe that nuclear is the future of this commonwealth. And it’s imperative that this commonwealth stay in the forefront and not get left behind.” KENTUCKY BILL WOULD FOSTER CUTTING-EDGE RESEARCH COLLABORATION BETWEEN UNIVERSITIES His measure passed the Senate on a 34-0 vote, with coalfield senators joining in support. The bill heads to the House next. Republicans have supermajorities in both chambers. By the same tally, the Senate adopted a related resolution directing the state Public Service Commission to prepare for nuclear energy. To develop that foundation, Senate Bill 198 would establish the Kentucky Nuclear Energy Development Authority. It would be attached to the University of Kentucky’s Center for Applied Energy Research and would be governed by an advisory board with members representing various stakeholder groups. The authority would be a nonregulatory agency on issues related to nuclear energy and its development in Kentucky. It also would support development of a “nuclear energy ecosystem” meant to enhance the economy, protect the environment, support community voices and prepare the future workforce. The bill would set in motion a site suitability study to identify the best potential locations for nuclear reactors and related facilities. The authority would set criteria for voluntary designations as a “nuclear-ready community.” Such a designation would signal to the nuclear industry that “these communities are open to nuclear –- whether it be a reactor, whether it be related industry,” Carroll said. The accompanying resolution would require the Public Service Commission to review “every aspect of what they do to make sure that when that first licensure request comes, that they’re not scrambling for six months to a year trying to figure out how to handle that particular situation,” Carroll said. The package of nuclear legislation sailed through the Senate with little discussion. It resulted from legislative action last year that created the Nuclear Energy Working Group. Democratic Sen. Robin Webb on Monday pointed to her ties to coal and how times have changed. She described herself as “a former coal miner who never thought she’d be on a nuclear task force.” Webb also said the state needs to embrace a diversified energy portfolio for years to come. Carroll has spent years advocating for an acceptance of nuclear energy, but said Monday that his legislation wasn’t meant to minimize other energy sources, including coal. “I don’t want anyone to be misled or to think that this bill is in any way being critical of coal, natural gas, any of the renewables, any other source of energy that we utilize at this point,” he said. Kentucky’s coal industry has declined drastically over the last two decades, with the state producing about a quarter of the coal it mined 20 years ago. But the state still generates about 68% of its electricity from coal, though that number has declined from about 90% historically as the power generating industry closed coal plants and switched to generators powered by cheaper natural gas. Nuclear energy is new territory for Kentucky, but some of its neighbors like Illinois and Tennessee have had reactors for decades. Tennessee’s two nuclear reactors provided about 45% of the state’s electricity generation in 2022, according to the Energy Information Administration.

GOP House candidate takes flamethrower to ‘Biden’s agenda’ in six-figure ad buy: ‘I’ll bring the heat’

GOP House candidate takes flamethrower to ‘Biden’s agenda’ in six-figure ad buy: ‘I’ll bring the heat’

FIRST ON FOX: Ohio state senator Niraj Antani wants to “bring the heat” to Congress in 2024, taking a hit at both Democrats and Republicans in a six-figure ad buy. In a fiery campaign ad Tuesday, shared first with Fox News Digital, Antani is seen with a flamethrower as he makes a case to voters in Ohio’s 2nd Congressional District. “President Trump is right,” Antani is seen saying before a clip plays of the former president saying “Biden. Worst president in our history.” Antani, who is the “youngest currently serving member” of the Ohio state senate, speaks while a flamethrower casts flames onto “Biden’s agenda” in a field. REPUBLICAN PARTY INFIGHTING ESCALATES IN OHIO AS MARCH PRIMARY NEARS “The spineless establishment of Republicans surrender to him every time,” Antani continued. “In Congress, I’ll take a flamethrower to the Biden agenda and the weak Republicans who betray us.” The six-figure ad buy is being broadcast on cable in Cincinnati and Charleston. TRANSGENDER CANDIDATES IN OHIO COULD BE DISQUALIFIED FROM BALLOT FOR FAILING TO DISCLOSE ‘DEADNAMES’ “That’s why Niraj Antani stood with Trump to stop election fraud and forced wishy-washy Republicans to defend the Second Amendment,” a narrator says. “I’m Niraj Antani,” the Republican candidate said while holding a flamethrower. “I approve this message, because in congress, I’ll bring the heat to the trader Republicans who sell out our values.” Antani, who was elected to the Ohio House at the age of 23 and is the son of immigrants who legally came to the United States from India, is running for the House seat currently held by GOP Rep. Brad Wenstrup, who announced in November that he wasn’t running for reelection. Earlier this month, Antani released another ad targeting Biden on the ongoing border crisis, demanding Congress “build Trump’s wall” and “defund sanctuary cities.” Antani is running in a crowded GOP primary that will take place on March 19th, 2024. The winner of the GOP primary will face Democrat candidate Samantha Meadows, the only remaining Democrat on the ballot after Democrat Joe Wessels dropped out of the race and endorsed one of Antani’s GOP opponents.