The perfect storm gathering over Sen. John McCain’s re-election prospects has continued to grow recently. McCain’s widespread unpopularity and vulnerability have been well-documented, and this weekend his Tea Party challenger, Kelli Ward, launched a statewide tour that promises to keep the pressure on the five-term Senator. The Havasu News Herald reports that Ward isn’t holding back any criticism of McCain’s failure to represent Arizona:
“We are not getting Arizona represented in (Washington D.C.), we’re getting D.C. represented in Arizona,” Ward said.
Pushing her message that McCain has lost touch with Arizona, Ward has already raised more than $525,000, and has been relentless in pressuring McCain. Political watchers in Arizona anticipate McCain to expend significant resources all the way through Arizona’s late August primary to survive — just as he did in 2010, when he spent him almost $20 million to beat back another Tea Party challenge. And McCain’s special interest friends must be nervous because they’ve already taken to the airwaves in an attempt to boost his image in Arizona and prop him up more than a year before the election.
“After more than 30 years in Washington, John McCain is facing pressure in a primary and a general election for losing sight of what matters to Arizona families,” said Sadie Weiner, DSCC Communications Director. “McCain’s special interest friends are already spending to boost his image because they know he’s got major challenges in his re-election bid, but all the money in the world can’t buy McCain a different record and it’s clear Arizonans are ready for a fresh voice.”
