Thread: Scott Brown campaigns for McCain in Arizona

Scott Brown campaigns for McCain in Arizona

Jonathan J. Cooper -
Mar. 5, 2010 03:48 PM
Associated Press .

Facing the toughest re-election battle of his career, John McCain
enlisted a rising star of the Republican Party in a bid Friday to lock down support among conservative primary voters.

Massachusetts Sen. Scott Brown made his first campaign trip as a senator when he visited Arizona.

The appearance also marked a key test of Brown's popularity among Republican activists and his ability to raise contributions for candidates after he recently broke with GOP leadership to side with Democrats in supporting a jobs bill.

Brown joined McCain at Grand Canyon University, a small Christian school in Phoenix.

"We need good people, honest people, people who are greatly respected, people who are not out for themselves," Brown told a crowd of about 1,000 people.

"And he's right here," he said of McCain.

Pacing the stage, McCain stressed familiar themes, saying he opposes the health care bill and abortion, worries about the national debt, and is committed to creating jobs and keeping people in their homes.

He spent most of his time — and got his loudest applause — on health care.

"We Republicans, like the majority of Americans, are saying to the president: Stop and start over,'" McCain said.

Brown won his seat in January with the help of national Republicans, "tea party" groups and an array of conservative special interests. Some of those supporters turned against Brown after his Feb. 22 vote on the jobs bill, calling him "Benedict Brown" and lambasting him online.

As a nationally popular Republican representing a left-leaning state, Brown walks a fine line between pleasing his base and positioning himself for re-election.

It's a challenge McCain knows well. He represents a Republican state, but some Arizona conservatives have long been skeptical of the four-term senator because of his work with Democrats in support of issues including campaign-finance and immigration reform.

Brown's visit is intended to help McCain galvanize support on the right. Even as some former supporters turn on Brown, he remains popular in the Republican Party after his victory embarrassed Democrats.

He won a special election to replace the late Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, a liberal icon who frustrated conservatives for half a century.

Brown's victory gave Republicans the crucial 41st vote they need to block Democratic legislation in the Senate. On his first opportunity to do so, however, he was one of five Republicans to prevent a filibuster and allow the jobs bill to advance. It later passed the Senate on a formal vote with support from 13 Republicans.

The Massachusetts senator is in Arizona for campaign stops with McCain in Phoenix on Friday and Tucson on Saturday, as well as a fundraiser in the Phoenix suburb of Scottsdale.

McCain was one of Brown's earliest supporters when his chances in Massachusetts looked like a longshot and he struggled to find footing in the race.

Days after his election, Brown recorded a phone call asking Arizona Republicans to support McCain.

The campaign stop came just days after the leaders of four key Arizona "tea party" groups announced they would not endorse any candidate in the race, a blow to McCain's GOP primary opponent JD Hayworth, who has tried to define himself as the tea party candidate.

The former congressman and conservative talk-radio host announced in January that he would challenge McCain for the seat he's held since 1986.

"Both McCain and Hayworth's records during their many years in Washington leave much to be desired," Robert Mayer, co-founder of the Tucson Tea Party, said in the statement.

http://www.azcentral.com/news/election/ ... 05-ON.html

McCain has proven himself at the poster for a RINO, and Scott Brown is falling into that sewer. But then, since a Kennedy has been in charge in Mass. for eternity, Brown has promised to represent the people (without consideration of the party.) Beginning to sound like Brown is just as RINO as the godfather of boot-licking: McCain.

Originally Posted by vortex

McCain has proven himself at the poster for a RINO, and Scott Brown is falling into that sewer. But then, since a Kennedy has been in charge in Mass. for eternity, Brown has promised to represent the people (without consideration of the party.) Beginning to sound like Brown is just as RINO as the godfather of boot-licking: McCain.

A RINO in Mass. is not the same as a RINO in Arizona, that is the only type that can get elected in Mass. but Arizona should have a true pro-American conservative. I suppose Hayworth could make that point, does Arizona want to send a Massachusetts RINO to Washington?

This says it all about Brown doesn't it!!

McCain supported Brown so now Brown is returning the favor but instead of helping McCain, Brown has lost much of the support he recently had.

All this show to me is how much out of touch the Republican party still is. They still have not gotten the message.