Arizona's Republican primary, Arizona Senator John McCain, J.D. Hayworth

Will McCain dupe Arizona Republicans today?



By Jim Kouri
Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Arizona Senator John McCain is enjoying a comfortable lead over his primary opponent J.D. Hayworth, who garnered the support of the Tea Party movement and most conservative organizations.

Many political pundits say they believe that Senator John McCain will win Arizona’s Republican primary, after his almost sudden embrace of conservatism and spending millions of dollars fighting former congressman and conservative radio show host J.D. Hayworth.

While McCain enjoys the support of the GOP establishment, the Tea Party groups support Hayworth who, unlike McCain, is seeking tough federal action on the illegal immigration issue.

Hayworth shocked many political observers and pundits when polls first had him running close to McCain, but the four-time senator came racing back after shifting to the right on key issues such as illegal immigration and border security.

McCain had a war chest contained over $20 million into the primary race, while Hayworth reportedly had a mere $2.5 miillion. Sadly, it appears McCain’s political strategy of moving to the right during election cycles and then lurching to the left once victory is achieved will dupe Arizona voters yet again.

Perhaps voters should remember that before McCain was for tough illegal immigration enforcement and legislation, he was against it.

In 2006, Senator John McCain (R-AZ) and his friend the late Senator Edward Kennedy (D-MA) introduced a new immigration bill that was even more liberal than their past “amnestyâ€