SOURCEI’m long on record saying that McCain was potentially beatable this cycle, but only by a solid conservative with statewide name recognition and a solid approval rating. That would be one of two people: John Shadegg or Jeff Flake. JD Hayworth, McCain’s opposition has only one of those things going for him: statewide name recognition. He’s certainly no conservative, especially in today’s market where the mark of a winner will be strong fiscal conservative credentials and JD’s about as fiscally conservative as any incumbent Democrat in the US Senate. He spent twelve years in the US House and his singular accomplishment was never missing an opportunity to make a complete fool of himself in front of any TV camera he could find. He’s a terminal whiner, a complete buffoon and he’s never met a spending bill he couldn’t add something into before supporting. JD lost his seat in CD05 to Harry Mitchell not because of George Bush and not because of his “hardline stand” on immigration. He lost it because the voters in CD05 were sick of listening to JD Hayworth.
The bottom line for this race has been and is, Arizona voters aren’t fond of McCain’s policies but the respect him personally because of his service and his status as a POW. Those same voters are more approving of Hayworth’s policies but harbor a visceral hatred for him personally. There’s more, related to demographics and a little related to endorsements, but the real bottom line is that JD Hayworth is toxic and probably half of McCain’s vote total will be from people who can’t stand JD. The internals for the latest poll are here, and the headline reinforces what I’ve noted above: JOHN MCCAIN TROUNCING J.D. HAYWORTH BUT HIS JOB RATINGS STILL SOFT.
The Magellan poll – which is a Republican polling firm – did an excellent job of highlighting my contention about the candidate’s respective images:Among all voters, 60% have a favorable opinion of John McCain and 37% have an unfavorable image. This puts his image ratio at 1.6 to 1, which is decent for an incumbent. When looking at John McCain’s image rating by voter subgroup, it quickly becomes apparent that women have a more favorable opinion of him than men. Among all female voters, 66% have a favorable opinion of John McCain and 30% have an unfavorable opinion of him. Among all male voters, 54% have a favorable opinion of him and 44% have an unfavorable opinion. JD Hayworth’s image rating is “upside down” with 38% having a favorable opinion of him and 50% having an unfavorable opinion of him.
And let me add, this same poll shows Mitt Romney beating Palin in a Presidential race. If Palin were as influential as you keep crying about, seems to me the people she hoodwinked into voting for McCain would vote for her in droves over Romney.
But you keep blaming Palin for JD's shortcomings.
You fail to mention one important fact.
AZ has an “Open” Primary System witch allows for crossover voting in GOP primaries. That is what saved McLame. Nothing else.
If you are gonna act like u know all the facts, then don’t OMIT the most important one of all.