RSS Feed MenuAfter months of speculation, former Arizona GOP congressman J.D. Hayworth appears poised to challenge John McCain for the GOP Senate nomination in Arizona.
Last Friday, Hayworth ended his popular Arizona talk radio show and hinted at his near future. Signing off, the host said, “It has been a joy to spend weekday afternoons on KFYI. Now, another chapter begins. The call to public service remains, and again it may very well lead to pursuit of public office.” He also told the Associated Press on Friday that, “We’re moving forward to challenge John McCain.”
If Hayworth does run, he would be competing for public office for the first time since losing his Congressional seat in 2006, ending 11 years in office. The Arizona Republican was among 22 incumbent Republicans that lost in 2006. His loss may have, in part, been aided by his connections to corrupt lobbyist Jack Abramoff.
Hayworth’s likely run comes after months of declining support. A Rasmussen poll conducted last Wednesday and released last Friday shows Senator McCain with 53 percent support and Hayworth with just 31 percent, a 22-point difference. Hayworth’s “favorability rating” has slipped 9 points recently.
(Though, in an interview with the Arizona Republic, a possible Hayworth advisor cites a mysterious internal poll that “clearly shows J.D. can win.”)
In the fall, however, Hayworth’s support was strong and may see a resurgence after an official announcement. A poll conducted in December, indicated a virtual tie between the two Republicans and a September poll demonstrated that a staggering 61% of Arizonan Republicans disapproved of McCain’s political choices.
A 2010 Hayworth-McCain battle would, in many respects, fit into a larger political trend in which a conservative GOP candidate like Florida’s Marco Rubio challenges an established, moderate candidate, like Florida Governor Charlie Crist (a McCain supporter).
Hayworth, like Rubio and other conservative insurgents across the nation, has positioned himself as a true conservative Republican opposing an impure moderate or liberal Republican. Unlike most conservative candidates, however, Hayworth will most likely make illegal immigration central to his campaign, perhaps even above economic issues.
Indeed, immigration is a central issue in Arizona politics. The border state is home to a steady flow of illegal immigration from Mexico and, as a result, strong support for increased border enforcement. Both Sheriff Joe Arpaio (“the toughest Sheriff in America”) and the Minuteman Militia (citizens that patrol the US-Mexico border area) are local to Arizona. In a 2009 poll, Arizonans considered immigration reform a more pressing issue than healthcare reform.
McCain’s vocal support for the failed 2007 comprehensive immigration reform (which, among other things, called for the legalization of illegal immigrants living in America) enraged many Grand Canyon State conservatives who support strict enforcement of border laws.
Hayworth admits, “No, I would never run for office, quote, out of spite, but I do have a profound disagreement with Senator John McCain over the concept of amnesty, whether he wants to call it comprehensive immigration reform or a pathway for guest workers to remain,” said Mr. Hayworth.
A week ago, as McCain spoke at the Arizona Republican Party’s recent convention, crowd members mockingly shouted, ““What about amnesty?” and “JD!”
McCain also faces a challenge from the right from Chris Simcox, a founder of the Minuteman Militia. Hayworth’s candidacy for Senate may well be the death nail for the border hawk’s campaign.
McCain’s strained relationship with Arizona grassroots conservatives like Wilcox is nothing new. Going back as early as 2001, conservatives launched a recall on the Senator, who they deemed too liberal and too confrontational with the newly elected President Bush. Another conservative-led recall effort made headlines in 2007 as Senator McCain ran again for President.
But there is some hope for McCain in gaining some more traction with Arizona Republicans: Sarah Palin has promised to campaign in Arizona on her old running mate’s behalf.
Will she live up to this promise with Hayworth in the race? Palin’s base of support surely shares more in common with Hayworth. This may create some tension at McCain-Palin events if they take place at all. But, by most indications, Palin’s personal debt to McCain will likely win out over any potential Hayworth awkwardness.
franco 2 // Jan 26, 2010 at 6:04 pm
Palin will campaign for McCain and it effectively marginalizes her. Obviously Palin has already seen all this coming which is why she signed on to Fox, she’s done in politics – at least through the next couple election cycles anyway. Nowadays even pundits are coy about their political ambitions so as to garner more attention and improve their ratings.
I don’t see Palin supporters blindly following her advice to vote for McCain, there is too much bad blood between McCain and AZ conservatives. Personally I’d really like to see McCain retired.
In retrospect I wonder if McCain really cared to be President at all. McCain’s first choice for VP was Lieberman. Joe Lieberman! A Democrat. When conservatives rejected this idea McCain turned to Palin.
Since McCain didn’t give up his precious Senate seat to run for POTUS it isn’t a wild speculation that he was also laying the groundwork for his 2010 Senate race in choosing Palin. McCain has a vindictive streak, and that combined with hedging his bets on his career options (Do these bloated fools ever consider retirement?) points to a possible cynical selection of the Alaskan Governor as VP. He went through the motions in the Presidential campaign with his eye on his 2010 Senate run is what it looks like to me at this point. Those of us who are mere voters forget the importance these guys place on their careers after they lose. Like naive sports fans, we suffer loses harder than the professionals do. They at least are getting a paycheck either way.
I am getting annoyed that the news media is running to McCain for his take as though he represents the counter to Obama. Just because he ran for President in 2008 doesn’t mean he represents theRepublican party today. But it is convienient for them and for the Obama administration, because McCain ALWAYS pulls his punches with Democrats and he often takes on their assumptions, which is all they require to win the debate.
McCain needs to go.
Danny_K // Jan 26, 2010 at 7:11 pm
Hayworth is a Birther.
swilkins65 // Jan 26, 2010 at 8:26 pm
We in the mid to right and even far right of the Republican party often complain about the liberal Republicans who adopt a Republican agenda only to the smallest degree as a means to securing a base of voters. I have NO DOUBT that if Arizona was a blue state that McCain would be a Democrat and gladly champion many of their causes. The primaries are the one and only chance we have to really shape what the Republican party in Arizona stands for. If we’re not willing to avail ourselves of the chance to put to pasture the middle of the road, Republican in name only (RINO) factions of our party then we need to stop complaining when our elected middle of the roaders (such as McCain) run off to Washington and fail to represent us in the manner which we require. We’ve got momentum, media attention and all the talking points we need to finally clean house and start undoing some of the damage that has been done over the last several decades.
If we are true to ourselves and our platform then we need to get behind the candidates that speak for us when it’s unpopular and McCain has been in Washington W-W-A-A-A-Y-Y-Y-Y too long to speak for me anymore (if he ever really did which is debatable). I’m tired of trying to be tolerant of the liberal ways and losing more and more of my values on a annual basis. My kids go to schools that won’t teach because it leaves the disadvantaged behind, I get in an accident with someone who shouldn’t be in this country and it’s my insurance rates that go up and I can’t operate a landscaping business the way it should be because some illegal with no insurance, no reason to pay taxes and no fear for the toothless government of panders will undercut my rates at every turn. My healthcare costs more because the hospitals and doctors have to charge me more to pay for money they loose on the unfunded care for illegals and Sheriff Joe is harassed at every event as if he’s a racist because he’s enforcing the law.
Enough is enough, support JD or a conservative of your choosing or stop complaining when the McCains of DC pander away all our liberties because it gets them more favorable press within the beltway crowds. We elect someone to represent us not educate us on why it can’t be done.
franco 2 // Jan 26, 2010 at 8:44 pm
Danny K
What is a “Birther”? Is that someone who thinks Obama was born of woman and not divine?
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TAZ // Jan 27, 2010 at 10:44 am
Palin will flush all credibility if she is seen as supporting a RINO and turning her back on the tea party / birthers.
I look forward to seeing how she spins this on Fox.
franco 2 // Jan 27, 2010 at 8:02 pm
Hey Danny K and TAZ! I just hit the motherlode! I was down at the DMV and… what a bunch of birthers!
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