Is this a legitimate feud progressing well-nigh unto a political “warpath,” as Politico contends? Or is this dispute between newly-ish independent-ish Kyrsten Sinema and Chuck Schumer and Joe Biden a handy way to brand herself as a re-election decision becomes more acute?

The answers is, of course, yes. But that doesn’t mean Sinema has no reason to go on the warpath after finding out that Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries diverted more border funding to New York than to Arizona. Sinema declared herself “livid” after discovering the Empire State pork, and doesn’t intend to be quiet about it either:

Independent Sen. Kyrsten Sinema is on the warpath over what she and border-state Democrats decry as Arizona’s disproportionately small share of an $800 million pot aimed at alleviating overcrowded migrant holding facilities. She’s not alone in crying foul about Arizona getting short shrift when compared to the Empire State — her potential 2024 opponent Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) is also speaking out on the imbroglio.

But only Sinema is aiming specific complaints at Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and the Biden administration.

Earlier this month in Yuma, Ariz., Sinema said she’s “livid” about her state’s treatment, singling out Schumer and Jeffries for steering border money to their state. She expanded on her ire in a lengthy interview with POLITICO, explaining that it’s “important for people to know” why New York leapfrogged Arizona.

“It’s fairly obvious. I don’t know if you noticed, but the announcement about that $104 million came out first, in a joint press release from Schumer and Jeffries — not from the White House or from FEMA. The first news of it broke by their press release,” Sinema said, referring to the amount of the pot granted to New York.

Sinema added sarcastically, “Now, how did that happen?” It happened because both Schumer and Jeffries represent New York, and they seized on these funds like a vegan convert would seize on a platter of bacon. They put pork-barrel politics over the priorities dictated by Joe Biden’s border crisis in Arizona (and Texas), and paid off Eric Adams to quell the griping about the consequences of “sanctuary city” declarations.

This goes beyond the funding, which came from a $600 million emergency fund for overcrowded shelter facilities. Only $75 million is left after New York’s big bite of the apple (heh), which certainly could do some good in Arizona. Sinema is going public and naming Schumer and Jeffries for more reasons than equity. Now that Sinema has left the Democrat Party, she will face Gallego in a general election if she chooses to run at all. And guess who will be helping Gallego win the seat back for the Democrat caucus?

Why, the top two people will likely be Schumer and Jeffries. The more she can cast them as villains who steal resources from Arizona to feather their own nests in New York, the less effective their endorsements and assistance to Gallego will be. At the same time, the longer Gallego goes without also calling out Schumer and Jeffries by name, the more Sinema can paint the House Democrat as nothing more than a lackey for the Democrats’ Northeastern establishment rather than someone interested in defending the interests of Arizonans.

Sinema might well be sincerely “livid” over the way funds got directed to New York rather than the epicenters of the border crisis. However, Sinema also understands a political gift when she gets one. Her decision to use it this aggressively strongly suggests Sinema will choose to run for another indepedent-ish Senate term.