Rep. Thomas Massie is fighting for his political life ahead of Tuesday’s primary, accusing the American Israel Public Affairs Committee and a group of wealthy Jews of attempting to “buy a seat in Congress.”
The Kentucky Republican accused Miriam Adelson, Paul Singer, AIPAC and other wealthy contributors from outside Kentucky of having “funneled millions of dollars” into the race against him.
“How did this race become the most expensive race in the history of Congress for a primary? It’s because three billionaires from outside of Kentucky have funneled millions of dollars in here. They’re trying to buy a seat,” Mr. Massie said during an appearance Sunday on ABC’s “This Week.”
Mr. Massie, a libertarian-leaning conservative, said the Republican Jewish Coalition, AIPAC, Ms. Adelson and Mr. Singer are “all part of the Israeli lobby.”
“It will be a referendum on foreign policy — whether Israel gets to dictate that by bullying members of Congress. And I’m the one they haven’t been able to bully,” he said.
President Trump, who endorsed Mr. Massie’s primary opponent Ed Gallrein, railed against Mr. Massie in a Truth Social post Sunday.
“Bad Congressman Tom Massie voted against Tax Cuts, the Border Wall, our Military and Law Enforcement,” he said.
He added, “Actually, he voted against almost everything that is good. The Worst Republican Congressman in History. Kentucky, vote the bum out on Tuesday. We can’t live with this troublemaker for another two years. He is a true negative force!!!”
Mr. Massie said Mr. Trump’s social media attacks have helped his fundraising, suggesting grassroots donors respond positively when Trump targets him.
“Every time he tweets about me, it’s good. I know some money is coming in because people don’t like that,” he said.
Recent polls show Mr. Massie trailing Mr. Gallrein in the primary election.
According to a May 11-12 survey from Quantus Insights, with 908 respondents and a 3.3 percentage-point margin of error, found 48.3% of likely voters say they will vote for Mr. Gallrein, while Mr. Massie garnered 43.1% support.
Another 7.6% said they are undecided, and 71 of those 86 respondents replied to further questions, with 52.4% saying they are leaning toward Mr. Gallrein versus 23.4% toward Mr. Massie.
Mr. Massie, however, insists the polls he has seen are in his favor and that his opponents are “panicked” and are “desperate.”
“That’s why the President’s losing sleep and tweeting about this. That’s why AIPAC has dumped another $3 million into my race this weekend is because they’re panicked and they really haven’t been able to gain a lead in this race,” he said.
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