The Wall Street Journal takes note of J.D. Hayworth’s challenge to Sen. John McCain:
It is the kind of intramural dodgeball playing out around the country as establishment-backed Republicans find themselves pelted by anti-big government, anti-spending, anti-tax populists. Among the battlegrounds are Senate primaries in Florida, where conservative darling Marco Rubio, a former state lawmaker, is taking on Gov. Charlie Crist, and in California, where Chuck Devore, a conservative state assemblyman, is challenging the establishment choices, ex-congressman Tom Campbell and former Hewlett-Packard Co. Chief Executive Carly Fiorina.
“Arizona’s Republicans deserve a choice and an alternative to Mr. McCain’s moderate record on taxes, social issues, the border and bailing out the banks,” Mr. Hayworth said in a robo-call his campaign said it would place to tens of thousands of Arizona Republicans.
Arizona political analysts say Mr. Hayworth may be able to capture the energy of the small-government conservatives, as well as anti-immigration voters. They are also the people most likely to show up at a primary held in the heat of the Arizona summer, Mr. Rasmussen said.
“Anybody who doesn’t take J.D.’s race against McCain seriously is crazy,” said Bruce Merrill, professor emeritus of mass communication at Arizona State University, and a former teacher of Mr. Hayworth. He predicted, though, that Mr. McCain will prevail.
This article appears in Feb 4-10, 2010.
NO WAY does AZ want an alternative to McCain! John McCain has held his ground on the big government spending, earmarks, health care and many, many other issues that are so important. We do not need JD Hayworth. He has been there, done that and done a terrible job at that. JD is linked with Abramoff, he is yet to pay off his legal bills, he has done nothing for this state in the past why on earth would we give him a second chance when we have someone who is working so hard for us already. McCain 2010
Cristal, you sound like one of John McCains radio ads. You might not remember that McCain was swept up in the huge Savings and Loan scandal of the late 80’s, McCain and his gang of 14, plus what all Arizonan’s do not need “Reform of Illegal Immigration”. Lets enforce what’s on the books, just like what Sherrif Joe “Who was voted in by Arizonan’s” does everyday. J.D. might not be the answer, but McCain isn’t any better right now, he just flip flopped on our Military last week. The only one who comes out smelling like a rose is Kyle.