In Recording, McCain Admits Trump Could Hurt His Chances In November

U.S. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., speaks to workers at MD Helicopters, Friday, May 30, 2014, in Mesa, Ariz. McCain addressed numerous issues, including the ongoing VA situation, in the town hall style meeting. (AP Photo/Matt York)
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Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) acknowledged last month that with Donald Trump at the top of the Republican ticket, he could have to fight for his Senate seat harder than ever before, according to a recording from an Arizona fundraiser obtained by Politico.

“Have no doubt that if it is Donald Trump at the top of the ticket, here in Arizona, with over 30 percent of the vote being the Hispanic vote, no doubt that this may be the race of my life,” McCain said in the recording published by Politico on Thursday morning.

McCain said that if you “listen or watch Hispanic media in the state and in the country, you will see that it is all anti-Trump.”

“The Hispanic community is roused and angry in a way that I’ve never seen in 30 years. And so this is going to be a tough campaign,” McCain said at the fundraiser, according to Politico.

McCain acknowledged that Trump has gained support for his views, particularly on immigration.

“People are angry. They’re upset. They feel that there’s this disconnect. And all of that — an frankly there’s an element of nativism in it as well, as you know,” McCain said on the recording. “The first wedge that Donald Trump had that gave him notoriety was ‘Build a wall,’ ‘Rapists,’ ‘Murderers,’ etcetera.”

With Donald Trump as the Republican nominee, vulnerable Republican senators could see their races become even tougher, and longtime lawmakers in red states, like McCain, could suddenly see their seats in play.

Rep. Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick (D-AZ), who is challenging McCain for his seat, was one of a few Democrats to quickly tie their Republican opponents to Trump after the real estate mogul’s resounding victory in the Indiana primary.

McCain has said that he will support the Republican nominee no matter who it is. Kirkpatrick told Politico that McCain’s party loyalty could hurt him in November.

“Latino voters in Arizona, and especially young Latino voters, are going to play a huge role in who will represent Arizona for the next six years,” Kirkpatrick said. “They are absolutely appalled by Trump’s hateful rhetoric.”

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