'World's Toughest Sheriff' Plays Coy On Running For U.S. Senate
by John Matthews
WMAL.com



The latest media polls in Arizona declare Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio to be the frontrunner for the GOP nomination to replace retiring Senator Jon Kyl next year.

But it's not at all clear whether Arpaio is really interested in the job. Arpaio, who says he's been to Washington three times in his life, asked WMAL's Morning Majority on Thursday, "What is that, Disneyland down there?"

"You know, every four years the governorship comes up, and every four years I say I may run, and then I don't," says Arpaio. " I'd have to leave the sheriff's position if I decide to run for something else, so that's kept me from running - but you never know this time," he adds.

Arpaio has previously said if he does not run for Senate next year he is "101 percent" sure he will run for a sixth term as Maricopa County's sheriff.

Arpaio, who's built a national reputation for his tough stance on illegal immigration, may be hesitant to spell out his future political plans, but he has no problem articulating a solution to the recent violent skirmishes at the U.S./Mexico border. Arpaio advocates working cooperatively with Mexico to send U.S. border patrols - or even military troops - across the border to clean up the mess.

Recalling his past as a career federal drug enforcement agent working in Mexico, Arpaio told the Morning Majority, " We had guns. We worked undercover, and we had gun battles approved by the governments. Why can't we get operational again?", he asks.

" I'm not saying raid or invade Mexico, just work with them to send some resources other than helicopters, money and intelligence," says Arpaio. "I think we could clean up that mess - especially at the border," he adds, "but you know that will never ever happen."

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