In an acknowledgment of a tougher-than-expected Republican primary battle, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) has shifted two top staffers to less prominent roles to prepare for his August contest against former Rep. J.D. Hayworth. A state Republican official told me that most decisions about the McCain strategy are being made by his loyal aides Mark Salter, Charlie Black and Rick Davis out of Washington.
That’s one reason why lesser known state campaign manager Shiree Verdone and part-time deputy campaign manager Mike Hellon on Friday were ushered out of the official Team McCain to a state fundraising organization called “Republican Victory.” They came on board in last year to kick off the campaign and handle state operations but the team is being professionalized as the aggressive election push begins.
“We don’t really know why, but a year ago Mr. McCain didn’t anticipate having a primary opponent with credibility and experience like Mr. Hayworth has. Looks like Mr. McCain is taking the race very seriously,” the state Republican official told me in an interview. The Arizona Republican party will remain neutral in the McCain-Hayworth race, but the official thinks it will be a close election.
The TPM Poll Average of this race has McCain leading Hayworth 49.2 percent to 38.2 percent. Still, Team McCain sees what’s happening across the country with incumbents (especially conservative Sen. Bob Bennet losing his party nod in Utah) getting swept up in anti-Washington fervor. They want to have all hands on deck for the Aug. 24 primary and if McCain prevails, he looks to have an easy reelection bid.
McCain spokesman Brian Rogers said in a statement:
As part of the campaign’s plan for this election year, Shiree and Mike are transitioning over to work with party committees to create a ticket-wide Republican Victory operation. At Victory, they’ll work to raise money and organize for the statewide general election, which is vitally important to help Republican candidates win up and down the ballot all across Arizona. Sen. McCain is very grateful for all that Shiree and Mike have done to launch the re-election campaign and establish it on a firm footing, and looks forward to working closely with them for Victory in November.
The Arizona Republic reports that more staff changes may happen this week and McCain is opening more offices across the state.
Meanwhile, Team McCain is going to push to portray Hayworth as an ethically tarnished longtime earmark enthusiast who was part of the reason Republicans were booted from power in Washington in 2006. As the campaign starts what they call a “contrast phase,” McCain will remind Arizonans that Hayworth is no tea party insurgent who would be a fresh face in Washington. They also will point out that Hayworth seems to be reaching out only to the far-right and hasn’t attracted any Arizona moderates.
“He’s got a record and he was part of the problem in Congress,” a McCain campaign aide told me. “Between spending and ethics and his involvement in the Abramoff scandal, why would we ever send a guy like that back? He’s not the solution in an anti-incumbent year.”
Of course, McCain is no fresh-face either, but his team will suggest to voters that the 2008 presidential nominee has long been a thorn in the side of leaders from both parties.
