While she may be new to politics, Ruth McClung has nonetheless made a number of friends on the radical right and in the Washington establishment.

Robert Stacey McCain

One of Ruth McClung's biggest fans has been writer Robert Stacy McCain, a widely known racist and white supremacist. McCain was a long-time member of the League of the South, which advocates Southern secession and celebrates the Confederacy. McCain made news when he wrote that many Americans react to interracial marriage with "altogether natural revulsion." Mr. McCain's posts supporting McClung and vilifying Grijalva have attracted interest on the far-right and brought McClung national attention.

Americans For Tax Reform

When asked by the editorial board of The Daily Star about the group Americans For Tax Reform and its founder, Grover Norquist, Ruth McClung claimed to have no idea who they were. This is surprising because Americans For Tax Reform has spent over $230,000 on attack ads targeting Raúl Grijalva on her behalf. This is also in spite of the fact that just prior to the group's ad buy, Ruth McClung signed their Tax Pledge. Did she really not know where her corporate money was coming from?

Considering Ms. McClung's emphasis on the immigration issue in this election, it's ironic that her largest supporter was found to employ an undocumented worker. Michael Kamburowski lobbied Congress for Norquist on dozens of issues, including immigration reform, while having no valid visa or work permit.

Republican Majority PAC

Ruth McClung has enthusiastically accepted the endorsement and fund-raising efforts of Republican Majority PAC.

I am excited to receive the endorsement of the Republican Majority Campaign PAC! RMCPAC is very selective in their endorsements. Some of the people they are currently supporting include big races like Sharron Angle for US Senate (Harry Reid’s NV seat), Scott Brown for US Senate (Ted Kennedy’s old MA seat), and at least 9 more Congressional and Senatoral [sic] candidates. I am proud and thankful that they have chosen to add me to their list of endorsements.

RMPAC was founded by Gary Kreep, a prominent birther involved in numerous lawsuits challenging President Obama's citizenship. Mr. Kreep is a far-right extremist associated with some of the most radical groups in the country, including the Minutemen Militia and Operation Rescue. RMPAC's endorsement and fund-raising page for Ruth McClung includes some quite objectionable language, such as:

El temblando racista de (the quiverying racist of) Tucson, Sr. Grijalva, must be defeated at all costs. He is the first to call the race card at every turn. He is the racist, not we conservatives. He believes in, sponsors and promotes "La Raza" (the Mexican race) while we conservatives value all races equally. We have heard his silly racist name calling for decades now and it is time the electorate of the 7th Congressional District of Arizona tells him to shut up, go to Mexico City and cash in his race card where it may bring him five centavos.

US Chamber of Commerce

The US Chamber of Commerce has waded into the fray on Ruth McClung's behalf, pouring over $160,000 into the race so far. Nearly a million dollars in disclosed donations alone, from foreign companies, go into the same 501(c)(6) the Chamber uses to run partisan attack ads against Grijalva and other candidates.

60 Plus

60 Plus advertises aggressively on Ruth McClung's behalf. While the group bills itself as a senior oganization much like AARP, it is in fact almost fully funded by the pharmaceutical industry.

Americans For Prosperity

McClung is being backed by Americans For Prosperity, a close Tea Party ally. Ruth signed the group's pledge to oppose climate change legislation. Americans For Prosperity is the creation of billionaire oil heir and businessman David Koch.

Freedomworks

McClung also recieved support from Freedomworks, a group that calls itself an authentic Tea Party creation but is deeply tied to Washington insiders. Founded by former GOP House Majority Leader Dick Armey, the organization has ties to pharmaceutical companies, with major funding coming from telecommunications and tobacco companies.