“The one thing you never want to do in politics is heighten expectations. You always want to lowball it. That’s just the best way to handle it. Plan for the worst and hope for the best.”
— Sen. John McCain (R-AZ), quoted by Politico, on his primary today.
Arizona U.S. Senate candidate Ann Kirkpatrick (D) released a devastating ad that ties Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) to his party’s presidential nominee.
A new Public Policy Polling survey in Arizona finds Sen. John McCain leading a multi-candidate primary field with 39%, followed by Kelli Ward at 26%, Alex Meluskey at 4%, Scott McBean at 3%, and Clair Van Steenwyk at 2%. Another 27% are undecided.
In a head-to-head match up, McCain and Ward are tied at 41%.
Key finding: “Only 35% of GOP voters approve of the job McCain is doing to 50% who disapprove.”
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Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick (D) is out with a brutal ad tying Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) to Donald Trump. Expect to see many more ads like this in U.S. Senate races around the country.
Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick (D-AZ) will challenge Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) for U.S. Senate, Roll Call reports, giving Democrats a top recruit in a potential pick-up opportunity in 2016.
“Arizona’s nearly 1.2 million political independents will be able to continue to influence who Republicans nominate for office, at least for the foreseeable future,” the Verde Independent reports.
“The executive committee of the Arizona Republican Party on Saturday rejected a proposal to try to close future primaries and limit participation to the 1.1 million who are officially members of the Grand Old Party. Party spokesman Tim Sifert said committee members concluded it made no sense to try to challenge a 1998 voter-approved measure which paved the way for independents to vote.”
“I think they have to be ready. Everybody knows it’s not beanbag.”
— Sen. John McCain (R-AZ), quoted by Politico, with a warning to potential tea party challengers as he gears up for his re-election race.
Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) told NBC News that he will run for re-election even though he is currently 78 years old but will be 80 by Election Day in 2016.
Said McCain: “I say watch me. Take a look. Take a look at my 18 hour days. Take a look at the hearings we have. Take a look at my legislative accomplishments.”
Sen. Jeff Flake (R-AZ) “is throwing his weight behind Sen. John McCain (R-AZ), endorsing his home-state colleague against any potential primary foes,” The Hill reports.
“The endorsement could help McCain against a Tea Party challenge. Flake remains popular with Arizona’s conservative base despite his split from activists on immigration reform.”
“Nearly a year ago, tea party agitators in Arizona managed to get John McCain censured by his own state party. Now, he’s getting his revenge,” Politico reports.
“As the longtime Republican senator lays the groundwork for a likely 2016 reelection bid, his political team is engaging in an aggressive and systematic campaign to reshape the state GOP apparatus by ridding it of conservative firebrands and replacing them with steadfast allies.”
Taegan Goddard is the founder of Political Wire, one of the earliest and most influential political web sites. He also runs Political Job Hunt, Electoral Vote Map and the Political Dictionary.
Goddard spent more than a decade as managing director and chief operating officer of a prominent investment firm in New York City. Previously, he was a policy adviser to a U.S. Senator and Governor.
Goddard is also co-author of You Won - Now What? (Scribner, 1998), a political management book hailed by prominent journalists and politicians from both parties. In addition, Goddard's essays on politics and public policy have appeared in dozens of newspapers across the country.
Goddard earned degrees from Vassar College and Harvard University. He lives in New York with his wife and three sons.
Goddard is the owner of Goddard Media LLC.
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