He beat Hayworth by 25 points and JD was a fairly popular incumbent Congressman, wasn’t he?
Hayworth was a casualty of the 2006 election. He was not the strongest challenger to take on McCain.
There is much discontent among the ranks now and the dims are threatening that they can take his seat (Giffords??).
I think that will spur a more serions threat from within the Republican ranks now. Also there will be more outside influence and money for a serious Republican challenger. McCain is an embarrasment.
McCain voted against the lame duck Dream Act 2010.
Electing Kelly Ayotte, Jeff Flake and Orrin Hatch was a bigger problem.
I thought Strom Thurmond ran as this way.
http://www.charlestoncitypaper.com/TheBattery/archives/2014/03/05/independent-contingency-plan-in-works-if-lindsey-graham-loses-primary
A group of business leaders in South Carolina are considering a plan to run a petition candidate for U.S. Senate in the event Lindsey Graham loses the June Republican primary to one of his four opponents.