rssIs John McCain Slipping in Arizona?
Friday, December 11, 2009 at 11:10 am
- 10 Comments
In that piece about Sen. John McCain’s (R-Ariz.) shift to the right in the Obama era, Jonathan Martin and Manu Raju mention that the senator is at least theoretically preparing for a 2010 primary battle against former Rep. J.D. Hayworth (R-Ariz.), an ultra-conservative who went down in the 2006 Democratic wave. Not only have we seen polls that show Hayworth performing well, we have some evidence that McCain is less beloved in Arizona than he once was.
In 2000, McCain was locked in a functionally two-way battle for the GOP presidential nomination with George W. Bush. By Feb. 22, when Arizona held its primary, it was clear that Bush would win the nomination. McCain scored 60 percent of the vote anyway, a 24-point landslide over Bush, carrying every county, and carrying all but one, Graham County, with a majority.
In 2008, Arizona held its primary on Feb. 5, and McCain was moving ahead of former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney in the race for the GOP nomination, but most voters went to the polls thinking Romney had a chance to win if events broke his way. McCain won Arizona, but only with 47 percent of the vote, beating Romney by about 13 points. Romney carried three of Arizona’s 15 counties. McCain only won a majority in three counties: Coconino, Gila, and La Paz.
What does it mean? It’s open for debate, but it certainly suggests that McCain has a more conservative electorate to deal with these days. Both Romney and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee performed better in their home states than McCain performed in Arizona.
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10 Comments
Pingback posted December 11, 2009 @ 11:12 am
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Pingback posted December 11, 2009 @ 12:17 pm
[...] In that piece about Sen. John mccain’s (R-Ariz.) shift to the right in the Obama era, Jonathan Martin and Manu Raju mention that the senator is at least theoretically preparing for a 2010 primary battle against former …Read Original Story: Is John mccain Slipping in Arizona? – The Washington Independent [...]
Comment posted December 11, 2009 @ 1:38 pm
With names like Mormon Lake in Coconino County Arizona, along with Utah and Idaho have high Mormon populations. So, is it any surprise Mitt would carry some countries in Arizona. Posts on blogs would blaze with near threats to McCain of a Mormon backlash against him in Arizona. I am not sure it has much overall national impact that three countries in Arizona voted for Romney. The FLDS church still has a showing in Arizona and from readings there is a tolerance of the group.
Pingback posted December 12, 2009 @ 11:50 am
[...] Is John McCain Slipping in Arizona? « The Washington Independent [...]
Pingback posted December 12, 2009 @ 11:50 am
[...] Is John McCain Slipping in Arizona? « The Washington Independent [...]
Comment posted December 12, 2009 @ 1:42 pm
He's trying to come off as an ultra-con to preserve his political future, to apparently no avail, but he's spit in the faces of his constituents for so long, not to mention “alienating” the minorities in AZ, that he'll have a tough time convincing anyone of his sincerity on anything again.
I think McCain's a goner in 2010.
Comment posted December 14, 2009 @ 9:52 am
Mc Cain needs to be primaried and JD Hayworth is just the guy to do it.
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