You don’t think the GOP fratriciding the former nominee of their own party for POTUS won’t register with anyone? I think it most certainly will.
I think it’s inside baseball for independents who care about mostly about the economy right now and a have loose grasp of what ideology is. The media will play it up, I don’t think it will have much effect. On the flip side it may energize conservatives.
Even if it would “hurt” it’s the right thing to do. Hayworth is better, McCain isn’t entitled to be reelected just because he’s the incumbent. At least that’s my opinion on incumbents. Hayworth wouldn’t have too tough a time in the GE in Republican state in a Republican year. Unless maybe McCain decided to stab him in the back and endorse the democrat or something. But that would only validate that it was the right move to replace him.
I believe that rumor that McCain considered being Kerry’s running mate. It was ludicrous to nominate him for President in 2008.