McCain survives a tough battle now looks to November
WASHINGTON – Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) overcame one of the biggest fights of his political career to win his Senate primary as he seeks to win a sixth term
McCain fended off a primary challenge by state Sen. Kelli Ward, who lobbed controversial attacks at the longtime senator and closely hitched her campaign to GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump. With just two precincts reporting results, the Associated Press called the race.
Ward said last week that McCain, 80, is too old to stay in the Senate, implying that he might die in office.
“I do know what happens to the body and the mind at the end of life,” she said.
Ward also said McCain has “several issues about race” and questioned whether he would come out against Trump if he wins his primary.
McCain largely ignored Ward throughout the primary, though his campaign ran one TV ad this month that attacked her for being inexperienced on national security.
McCain will face a tough general election race against Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick (D-Ariz.), though he currently leads in polling.
Democrats have been trying to nationalize the race, tying McCain to Trump. They believe Trump’s harsh rhetoric regarding immigration could help them in a state with a large Hispanic population.
Meanwhile, Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio showed up at the Arizona Republican Party headquarters. Arpaio told reporter the press that he won’t be talking about his federal court case; he’s only there to talk about the primary.
Arpaio said he hopes Donald Trump talks about drug traffickers if he meets when he meeys with the Mexican president tomorrow before flying to Phoenix for a speech on immigration.
The stakes are high for Trump in his trip to Mexico as well as when he gives his speech Wednesday in Phoeniz,