Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) now has a Democratic challenger for 2016: Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick (D-AZ).
Roll Call first reported Kirkpatrick’s plans on Monday. Kirkpatrick’s decision opens up her old congressional district, which leans Republican and Mitt Romney won with a three-point margin in 2012.
McCain is the favored as the frontrunner in the Arizona Senate race, which Rothernberg & Gonzalez Political Report says favors Republican.
For months, there have been rumblings of a conservative primary challenge to McCain. A Public Policy Polling survey in early May found Rep. David Schweikert (R-AZ) running just one point behind McCain, while Rep. Matt Salmon (R-AZ) polled two points behind the senator and state Sen. Kelli Ward (R) trailing McCain 44 percent to 31 percent.
If one of those conservative Republicans challenge McCain —especially Schweikert or Salmon— they would likely have the backing of powerful outside groups like the Senate Conservatives Fund (SCF) or Club for Growth, which heavily backed tea party primary challengers in the last cycle. Less than a week ago, SCF sent an email to supporters titled “Time to Replace John McCain.”
“John McCain lost his way a long time ago and it’s time to replace him with a strong conservative leader who will support and defend the Constitution,” SCF President Ken Cuccinelli wrote in the email.
McCain’s office quickly responded to Kirkpatrick’s move on Tuesday.
“Senator McCain welcomes Congresswoman Kirkpatrick to the race, and looks forward to running a vigorous campaign no matter who the Democratic nominee is,” McCain Communications Director Brian Rogers said in a statement.
This post has been updated.
Brilliant if this buffoon could be drummed from office to wander FOX in sackcloth…
Here’s hoping someone in her campaign learns how to be a good Internet citizen and actually responds to requests to remove someone from her mailing list. I have no idea how I even ended up on it - I’m not even American, I can’t help out really - but literally the worst experience trying to get off. I have taken to changing my name to obscenities, because for some reason I can do that, but not delete my name off her list. If this is indicative of the operation she’s running, not impressed.
On one hand, it would be kind of fun to run as a Democrat in Arizona. Go in knowing you’ll probably lose, but that would free you to say whatever you wanted. You could hold up a mirror to the state and show how FUBAR it has become by being a crazy red state.
On the other hand, you might get shot.
LOL at the quote by Cuchinelli. The Kooch has absolutely no clue about the Constitution. And he is still a sore loser from gubanatorial race in Virginia which he lost to Terry McAuliffe.
I think there is a pretty good chance that McCain retires. His posse is already eyeing moving on (even if they don’t this time around) with Graham entering the Presidential to run for Sec of Defense, and Ayotte facing a very tough race and Lieberman a thing of the past.
He doesn’t want to go out by losing, so if he thinks he will be facing a loss, he will resign. Of course, what you and I might consider “probably losing” is quite different from what Mavericky McCain considers “probably losing”, and there is the very real problem that McCain probably couldn’t tolerate the media withdrawal that comes with not being in Congress.
But all in all, I think the chances are higher that he rides off into the sunset this time, than they were last time.