McCain will skip GOP convention to campaign for reelection

Hotair ^ | 04/20/2016 | John Sexton

[SeekAndFind]

Senator John McCain will not attend the GOP’s convention this summer. Instead he plans to use the time to campaign for reelection. Politico reports:

“I have to campaign for reelection, and I have always done that when I’m up,” McCain said. “We have a late primary in Arizona.”

Though the GOP convention is scheduled for July 18-21, the Arizona lawmaker also faces an Aug. 30 primary against state Sen. Kelli Ward and business owner Alex Meluskey.

McCain’s real problem is his likely Democratic opponent Ann Kirkpatrick. Though polling is sparse, the RCP average suggests the head-to-head match-up is currently a dead heat.

The GOP is facing a tough map in 2016. It needs to defend 24 seats while Democrats only need to defend ten. In order to win the majority, Democrats only need to flip 4 seats if Clinton wins the White House or five if a GOP candidate wins. CNN reports the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) is planning to spend nearly $40 million on adds in a few key races to sway the outcome:

According to a source with knowledge of the ad buy, the DSCC is reserving $10 million in air time to target the state’s open Senate seat in Florida, which Sen. Marco Rubio is vacating. The campaign committee is dropping another $10 million in Ohio, in a battle where former Democratic Gov. Ted Strickland is locked in a tight contest with GOP Sen. Rob Portman.

The group plans to bolster the candidacy of Democratic Gov. Maggie Hassan in New Hampshire, with $8 million in the race to unseat GOP Sen. Kelly Ayotte. And the DSCC plans to drop another $5 million to defend two seats — Colorado, where Sen. Michael Bennet is up for re-election, and $4 million in the race for the Nevada seat being vacated by Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid.

Kelly Ayotte, who is on the DSCC’s list of targeted seats has also stated she will not attend the GOP convention in order to focus on her campaign.

[AngelesCrestHighway]

McCain who?

[yoe]

John McCain has for some 39 years served for Arizona in the United States Senate. On the cusp of becoming 80 years of age,we thank him for his service both in the military and in the senate.

Retire John...make way for younger, more up to date and more knowledgeable younger minds.

[boycott]

So this clown expected us to hold our noses and support him in 2008 but he isn’t willing to support the GOP candidates?

This clown is such a hypocrite.

Oh yeah, it should be noted that McLame and Hillary are friends. This is why we must purge the GOPe.

[Stingray51]

McCain’s real problem is his likely Democratic opponent Ann Kirkpatrick.

Classic Establishment spin: act is if the primary is a non-issue, not a real threat, until the very last possible moment in the hope that the media will not treat the primary opponent as a "real" candidate and instead will impose a media blackout that will keep the primary opponent from gaining any momentum. It is up to all of us to make sure that does not happen!

[OddLane]

BTTT.

[Vince Ferrer]

the Arizona lawmaker also faces an Aug. 30 primary against state Sen. Kelli Ward and business owner Alex Meluskey

Don't let McCain split the anti McCain vote with several opponents. Pick ONE challenger and vote for that one.

[bkopto]

Juan MexiCain needs to be hobbitized.

[LS]

He better. Kelli Ward is going to kick his aged butt.

[Cincinnatus.45-70]

Too bad he didn’t skip the 2008 convention.

[Taxman]

Please, Zonies, send McCain into retirement!

[disndat]

HEY AZ! Term limits.