Arpaio's GOP Senate Opponent: 'Joe's a Patriot'

Arizona Senate candidate Kelli Ward on Thursday defended her opponent Joe Arpaio's controversial record as sheriff — saying he has been a "leader on fighting illegal immigration."

"Joe's a patriot. He has been a leader on fighting illegal immigration here in our state – we're a border state," Ward said on CNN's "New Day."

AZ Senate candidate Kelli Ward is not going to "go down a rabbit hole" discussing former President Barack Obama's birth certificate. Her rival in the Republican primary, Joe Arpaio, called it a "phony document." https://t.co/PvZ6nl9gH3

— New Day (@NewDay) January 11, 2018

"He has fought for the rule of law here in Arizona, and that's what people are looking at."

Arpaio and Ward, both Republicans, are running for the seat being vacated by Jeff Flake.

Arpaio, who lost his re-election bid for Maricopa County Sheriff in 2016, was convicted of ignoring a federal order to stop racial profiling on the job. He was later pardoned by President Donald Trump.

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