McCain Re-Election Opposition Narrows

U.S. Rep. David Schweikert, R-Ariz., listens to testimony during a House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Congressional Field Hearing on the Affordable Care Act's impact on Americans, Friday, Dec. 6, 2013, i... U.S. Rep. David Schweikert, R-Ariz., listens to testimony during a House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Congressional Field Hearing on the Affordable Care Act's impact on Americans, Friday, Dec. 6, 2013, in Apache Junction, Ariz. The hearing was the third in a series of field hearings being conducted by Rep. Darrel Issa, R-Calif. (AP Photo/Matt York) MORE LESS

The fight for Sen. John McCain (R-AZ)’s seat narrowed this week when a possible challenger said he was “leaning against” challenging McCain in 2016.

Rep. David Schweikert (R-AZ) and Rep. Matt Salmon (R-AZ) have both shown interest in running but also said that only one of them would run. Schweikert told Roll Call “I would say I’m leaning against it. I think that’s fair.”

Schweikert’s comment suggests that Salmon could be the one to actually challenge McCain.

“You’ve gotta make the first decision of, are you willing to throw yourself on the sword?” Schweikert said. “It’s crazy. People seem to get their decision making out of order, and they start trying to decide what their campaign colors are gonna [be] before deciding if they should run a campaign.”

Schweikert said he would decide whether to run or not based on the data on the race.

A strong challenger to McCain would likely get a boost from the Club for Growth. The group’s president, former Rep. David McIntosh (R-IN), said earlier in the week that his conservative grassroots organization would be monitoring the race closely and would strongly consider backing a challenger to McCain.

McCain himself has said he’s “most likely going to run for re-election.”

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  1. Avatar for dnl dnl says:

    $isterBible$pice

    jumping up and down in her JimmyChoos screaming in her oh so sultry voice…

    PickMePickMePickMe!!!

  2. Gramps McCain is gonna hold onto his Chairmanship of the Armed Services Committee with a death grip as it’s something he has long coveted. That means that of course he will run again. For evidence I have the McCain Newsletter he sends to anyone who has emailed his office if you want it or not. I get two because I’ve emailed him twice. And they weren’t flattering either. If you wish to read his drivel you can likely find it on his website. I’d rather not soil TPM with it.

  3. You’re right that he has long coveted being chair of the Armed Services Committee. But he’s going to be 80 years old by the 2016 election. Is he really up physically for another 6 years?

  4. I think it’s time for him to retire.

    I really am opposed to term limits, but you know something…I’m not opposed to a mandatory retirement age for members of Congress and the Supreme Court.

  5. I guess aging with dignity was never a consideration? McCain is a figment of a legend wrapped in a pseudo hero war costume that chameleon’s envy for its ability to change under pressure.

    If McCain had a life, he would go live it. But he lives for the chance to actually be something-something war hero-winner something-something not always a let down. Looking at the bigger picture, McCain is a pathetic product of the MIC. War is all he is about and he is terrible at it.
    John McCain, serial failure.

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