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Poll: McCain In Dead Heat In Potential 2010 GOP Primary For Re-Election
Sen. John McCain (R-AZ)
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A new Rasmussen poll finds that Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) could potentially be in trouble with Republican voters back home in Arizona, where he's often faced criticism from the right for his views on immigration.
In a potential Republican primary for his 2010 re-election, the 2008 GOP nominee for President is in a dead heat with former Rep. J.D. Hayworth, a hard-line conservative who lost his seat in the 2006 Democratic wave.
The numbers: McCain 45%, Hayworth 43%, with a ±4% margin of error. A third candidate who is already in the race, former Minuteman leader Chris Simcox, gets 4%.
From the pollster's analysis: "For McCain, the GOP Primary appears to be his biggest challenge since no major Democrats in the state have stepped forward yet to run against him."
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JohnW1141
November 20, 2009 9:28 AM
JD Hayworth? Christ, I thought we got rid of that blowhard.
Imagine a State that elects John Kyl and J D Hayworth to the Senate. Hayworth will be the other bookend to Jim DeMint.
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rynato
November 20, 2009 9:47 AM in reply to JohnW1141
it could be very entertaining.
too bad the Arizona Democratic Party is as weak and ineffectual as the Suns' rebounding was last night in New Orleans. We managed to actually LOSE ground to the GOP in the Legislature, in last year's election.
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pppwww
November 20, 2009 10:10 AM in reply to rynato
i love me some louis amundson
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WaitWut?
November 20, 2009 11:57 AM in reply to rynato
No kidding. I live in Arizona and am disgusted with our party here. It took me 2 friggin months to get a hold of the head of the Democratic Party in my county. Most of the local web sites and phone lines are either dead or haven't been updated since pre-election.
We're here, but there's no organization, no drive, no passion. When I voiced my concerns to the party head, he said, "I know, but there's only so much we can do". Yeah, that makes me wanna get involved.
McCain is a "favorite" republican among the Dems here, though. His numbers may be down, but if it comes to it, they'll back him to keep that other idiot out since we have no decent Dems running.
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ivy22
November 20, 2009 9:36 AM
Republican far right radicals, led by the Fox monster, will eat their own. John McCain will struggle and likely fall. What will be left of this party?
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dswx
November 20, 2009 9:40 AM
Sounds a lot like Rasmussen (R) throwing a bone to the far-right conservatives. You can always count on Rasmussen (R) to give the most conservative candidate in any poll several more points than reality. As was clearly shown in numerous pre-election polls last year and this year. Rasmussen (R) is still an outlier compared to most polls at pollster.com.
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rynato
November 20, 2009 9:49 AM
The anti-immigrant hard right which might support Hayworth, is very unhappy with McCain. But he'll be re-elected. The advantages of incumbency are that great.
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The Decider
November 20, 2009 9:50 AM
Liberals like McCain are an endangered species, Heh, Heh! We are getting my nephew ready to be the next prez. He is good lookin' and has a Mexican momma so we can pull in the spanish vote.
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howie
November 20, 2009 10:03 AM
Wait until Sarah endorses Hayworth!
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Pete Bilderback
November 20, 2009 11:18 AM in reply to howie
Fingers crossed. I would just be too appropriate a punishment for McCain for foisting this woman onto the national political scene.
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jdb316
November 20, 2009 11:19 AM in reply to howie
Now wouldn't THAT be rich?
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theone718
November 20, 2009 10:29 AM
Don't trust Ram until about.........April of next near. They are shit this far out.
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Walter Mitty
November 20, 2009 10:47 AM
This is why McCain can't fire back at the Palin lies in her book, because he can't afford to go to war with the Palin supporters when he's in a primary fight with a hard right candidate.
If Hayworth looks like he's going to win, Napolitano should head back to Arizona to challenge him. Sec. Napolitano can't beat McCain, but she must poll well against Hayworth.
If Simcox bowed out, his votes would probably go to Hayworth right? Will he stay in and potentially play spoiler?
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Pete Bilderback
November 20, 2009 11:16 AM
Wouldn't it be neat if Sarah Palin endorsed Heyworth (or someone like him) in a primary against McCain? It would really bring the story full circle with an ending straight out of Greek tragedy...or perhaps the Bible.
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JohnMcCSF
November 20, 2009 11:30 AM
Let's see, a Commie sellout or a Patriot?
This a trick qustion Kleefeld?
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AnswerFrog
November 20, 2009 11:33 AM
I don't buy this for a second.
If anything, the people talking to pollsters are yanking their chains.
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WaitWut?
November 20, 2009 12:03 PM in reply to AnswerFrog
No. I believe it. I live here and know the whacked attitude of the Conservatives here. We have too many "minority people" moving in and the Cons are scared. McCain isn't doing anything to protect them from their evil plan of taking over Arizona so his popularity is dropping steadily. Many comments in the local paper refer to him as a liberal. Elections here are nothing more than freak shows.
But, the weather is nice.
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SBG
November 20, 2009 11:59 AM
I wonder if McCain ever thinks, goddammit, I was going to lose anyway, why didn't I just pick Tim Pawlenty? No way would T-Paw be running around the country now. He'd maybe be paying attention to his current job. As a Minnesotan, I'm not sure if that's good or bad, but he might be thinking about re-election in 2010 and start governing instead of pulling this unallotment crap.
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Aslanleon
November 20, 2009 12:08 PM
As an Arizona Republican, we have re-elected McCain for years as he has become more and more a creature of Washington and less our representative. We would be delighted to have a conservative alternative to him. We can elect that alternative, too. Hayworth is very popular here on a statewide basis. Alas, if Hayworth isn't nominated, we will sigh, hold our nose, and vote for McCain again. As for Napolitano, we would be delighted to run either candidate against her. Please do send her back.
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jeffgee
November 20, 2009 12:23 PM
So will the Hayworth wingnuts parachute Palin in to help him rouse the base against McCain? She's already gone off on McCain's campaign team, so why not the old man? She's rogue now; maverick is SO last year. She's building her own rogue brand, y'know, so anything is possible.
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Aslanleon
November 20, 2009 12:24 PM
As an Arizona Republican, we have re-elected McCain for years as he has become more and more a creature of Washington and less our representative. We would be delighted to have a conservative alternative to him. We can elect that alternative, too. Hayworth is very popular here on a statewide basis. Alas, if Hayworth isn't nominated, we will sigh, hold our nose, and vote for McCain again. As for Napolitano, we would be delighted to run either candidate against her. Please do send her back.
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Aslanleon
November 20, 2009 12:25 PM
As an Arizona Republican, we have re-elected McCain for years as he has become more and more a creature of Washington and less our representative. We would be delighted to have a conservative alternative to him. We can elect that alternative, too. Hayworth is very popular here on a statewide basis. Alas, if Hayworth isn't nominated, we will sigh, hold our nose, and vote for McCain again. As for Napolitano, we would be delighted to run either candidate against her. Please do send her back.
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BeeClone
November 20, 2009 1:44 PM in reply to Aslanleon
Submit then wait.
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Bull Schmitt
November 20, 2009 5:12 PM in reply to Aslanleon
You mean "creature of WARSH-ing-ton", right?
I suppose this environment explains why McCain has stayed right of even his BFF Lindsey Graham in the current Congress.
Does "Election First, Maverick in 2011" fit on a bumper sticker?
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Cal Gal
November 20, 2009 3:01 PM
I see "John McCain, Independent Republican" in the future, a la Joe LIEberman, "Independent Democrat"
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