AZ-SEN

Palin: 'Everyone Here Today Supporting John McCain, We Are All Part Of That Tea Party Movement' (VIDEO)

Eric Kleefeld | March 26, 2010, 4:50PM

Sarah Palin and Sen. John McCain (R-AZ)

Sarah Palin just campaigned for Sen. John McCain (R-AZ), the man who made her a national star when he selected her as his running mate for vice president in 2008 -- their first appearance together since the 2008 campaign ended.

McCain is being opposed in the Republican primary by former Rep. J.D. Hayworth, who is seeking to mobilize Tea Party movement support by casting McCain as an establishment moderate Republican. But Palin, herself a beloved figure among Tea Partiers, declared: "Everyone here today supporting John McCain, we are all part of that Tea Party movement."

Palin also joked: "When you talk about that Tea Party movement, some would claim John was there at that first Tea Party movement. (Crowd laughs. John McCain laughs.) And I'm kidding. But I've gotta remind people, before there were protests in the street or marches on Capitol Hill, there was the maverick fighting for us."

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AZ-SEN

Poll: McCain Ahead Of Hayworth By Only Seven Points

Eric Kleefeld | March 18, 2010, 9:22AM

Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) and former Rep. J.D. Hayworth (R-AZ).

The new Rasmussen poll of Arizona has Sen. John McCain (R-AZ), the 2008 Republican nominee for president, with only a single-digit lead over his challenger in the Republican primary, former Arizona Congressman J.D. Hayworth, and the incumbent McCain is under 50% support.

The numbers: McCain 48%, Hayworth 41%, with a ±4% margin of error. McCain had a much better lead of 53%-31% two months ago, shortly after the announcement that his former running mate Sarah Palin would come to Arizona to campaign for him. Back in November, when Hayworth was first making moves to get into the race, McCain had a statistically insignificant lead of 45%-43%.

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J.D. Hayworth

Maddow Grills Hayworth On Man-And-Horse Marriage Comments (VIDEO)

Eric Kleefeld | March 16, 2010, 10:35AM

Rep. J.D. Hayworth (R-AZ)

Rachel Maddow last night challenged former Rep. J.D. Hayworth (R-AZ), who is running against Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) in the Republican primary, on his assertion that the Massachusetts Supreme Court defined marriage as an "establishment of intimacy" that could lead to man-and-horse marriage -- when the phrase "establishment of intimacy" isn't in the decision itself.

"Where in Massachusetts law or in the Supreme Court ruling does it say, 'the establishment of intimacy?'" Maddow asked. "I read, spent the whole afternoon sort of looking for that, and couldn't find it anywhere."

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AZ-SEN

Hayworth: Gay Marriage Could Lead To Men Marrying Horses (AUDIO)

Eric Kleefeld | March 15, 2010, 10:57AM

Former Rep. J.D. Hayworth (R-AZ)

Former Rep. J.D. Hayworth (R-AZ), who is challenging Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) in the Republican primary, has declared that he supports a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage -- because to do otherwise could lead to a man marrying a horse.

"You see, the Massachusetts Supreme Court, when it started this move toward same-sex marriage, actually defined marriage -- now get this -- it defined marriage as simply, 'the establishment of intimacy,'" said Hayworth, during an appearance on a Florida radio show on Sunday. "Now how dangerous is that? I mean, I don't mean to be absurd about it, but I guess I can make the point of absurdity with an absurd point -- I guess that would mean if you really had affection for your horse, I guess you could marry your horse. It's just the wrong way to go, and the only way to protect the institution of marriage is with that federal marriage amendment that I support."

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AZ-SEN

Hayworth Fundraising Ad Depicts 'Conservative Actor' McCain In Avatar-Like Warpaint

Eric Kleefeld | March 5, 2010, 10:21AM

An online ad by former Rep. J.D. Hayworth (R-AZ), against Sen. John McCain (R-AZ)

Sen. John McCain's campaign (R-AZ) is strongly objecting to a new online fundraising ad from his opponent in the Republican primary, former Rep. J.D. Hayworth, depicting McCain's face in blue warpaint.

The online fundraising ad offers up McCain as a potential Oscar winner, as "nominee for best conservative actor." The Arizona Republic speculated that the ad may have been a reference to the movie Avatar. The Hayworth campaign has put up a revised version that changes McCain's skin color to a dark blue, in addition to the lighter blue warpaint, making an Avatar connection more obvious.

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AZ-SEN

Can Hayworth Beat McCain? It's A Definite Maybe

Eric Kleefeld | March 3, 2010, 12:49PM

Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) and former Rep. J.D. Hayworth (R-AZ).

With Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) being challenged from the right in the Republican primary by former Rep. J.D. Hayworth (R-AZ), a very important question must be asked: Is it possible that McCain could actually lose, a mere two years after he was his party's nominee for president?

A Rasmussen poll from November 2009 gave McCain only a 45%-43% edge, within the margin of error. McCain began his ad campaign soon thereafter, and by late January he was up by a stronger margin of 53%-41%, the most recent independent data on the race. McCain has also been endorsed by a Who's Who of the Republican Party -- most notably his former running mate Sarah Palin, a hero to many conservative activists.

A Republican source in Arizona told us that McCain is the frontrunner, but it is indeed possible for Hayworth to win. "Absolutely, it's feasible," said the source. "It's a primary, it's the base of the Republican Party. That being said, the independents can vote in the Republican Party. So it should be a very dynamic and energized race in which either can certainly win."

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AZ-SEN

Hayworth Campaign: McCain Falsely 'Claims That He Was A Patsy' On TARP

Eric Kleefeld | March 1, 2010, 1:38PM

Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) and former Rep. J.D. Hayworth (R-AZ).

We asked the campaign of former Rep. J.D. Hayworth (R-AZ), who is challenging Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) in the Republican primary, for comment on McCain's statement on Meet The Press that Americans were "misled" on the TARP bailout, and that it wasn't known beforehand that the money would be going to firms on Wall Street. Their answer: McCain "simply claims that he was a patsy."

"Now that he is getting roundly criticized by conservatives in Arizona and across the country, he has found a convenient bogeyman that he didn't mention at the time. And it's yet another example of his transparent election-year conversion to try to fool Republican primary voters in this state," said Hayworth spokesman Jason Rose. "On one hand, he is selling himself, as we speak, in campaign ads, for his experience in Washington as being an incredible asset for Arizona. Well, is there any better example of such an erroneous claim than this statement that he made yesterday on Meet The Press?"

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AZ-SEN

Hayworth Disavows Birtherism: I Believe Obama Was Born In Hawaii (VIDEO)

Eric Kleefeld | March 1, 2010, 10:17AM

Former Rep. J.D. Hayworth (R-AZ)

Former Rep. J.D. Hayworth (R-AZ), who is challenging Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) in the Republican primary, appeared on The O'Reilly Factor on Friday, and disavowed ever having any belief in the Birther movement, after the McCain campaign attacked him for his prior Birther-friendly statements.

"Hey Bill, I view this entire debate as esoteric. It's as esoteric as arguing about the eligibility of Chester Alan Arthur well over a century after he served as president," said Hayworth, referring to the 19th-century president whose detractors would spread rumors that he was born in Canada. "Look, Barack Obama's the 44th president of the United States. His election was certified. I believe he was born in Hawaii. I made certain statements on the air to -- to provoke conversation. That's what happens in broadcasting."

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