John McCain Frets That Donald Trump Has Been Firing Up ‘The Crazies’

UNITED STATES - JULY 14: Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., speaks to reporters in the Ohio Clock Corridor about the Iran nuclear deal as Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., left, and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., loo... UNITED STATES - JULY 14: Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., speaks to reporters in the Ohio Clock Corridor about the Iran nuclear deal as Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., left, and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., look on following the Senate Republicans' policy luncheon in the Capitol on Tuesday, July 14, 2015. (Photo By Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call) (CQ Roll Call via AP Images) MORE LESS
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Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) said real estate mogul and presidential candidate Donald Trump has galvanized “the crazies” in the Republican party, in an interview published Thursday by The New Yorker.

McCain talked with the magazine’s Ryan Lizza about Trump’s recent speech in Phoenix to a few thousand supporters.

“This performance with our friend out in Phoenix is very hurtful to me,” McCain told the magazine. “Because what he did was he fired up the crazies.”

And an activated population of conservative Republicans could spell trouble for McCain.

The longtime senator is up for reelection in 2016 and already has a primary challenger. Arizona state Sen. Kelli Ward (R) announced her candidacy Tuesday for the seat McCain has held since 1987.

“We have a very extreme element within our Republican Party,” McCain told the New Yorker. “We did to some degree regain control of the Party.”

A longtime supporter of immigration reform and a member of the bipartisan Gang of Eight, McCain said Trump’s hardline message about the border could be resonating with Republican voters.

“People who otherwise might be more centrist are angry about this border situation,” he said.

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Notable Replies

  1. Yeah John, sounds familiar doesn’t it.

  2. OMFG. This from the jerk who has spent years “firing up the crazies.” In fact, he chose one to be his veep candidate.

  3. McCain…you started this mess by bringing Governor Sarah “Hatred” Palin onto the stage. You don’t get to complain.

  4. Ironic…

  5. OMG, crazies that might vote in his primary…

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