J.D. didn't "try" to run to the right of anyone. J.D. already was to the right of McCain. He's a conservative. Arizonans just made a mistake.
“Arizonans just made a mistake.”
I voted for JD, but a lot of people I know voted for McCain, because they felt, and rightly so, that JD couldn’t win the seat if he was in the primary in November. They didn’t want McCain but they especially didn’t want a Democrat either.
As one writer put it:
“A Hayworth victory might have provided relief for Senate Democrats. Yes, it would have put one more Senate seat in play, but more importantly it would have conjured up a convincing national story about Republican intolerance toward immigrants, moderates, small puppies, you name it.”
I have myself heard Republican voters out here say JD is great but he won’t get elected. Their vote didn’t so much represent McCain but instead not allowing the door open for a Democrat.
and if you notice Palin’s picks were pretty much followed up on by the voters, and she supported McCain, even though it was before JD was a consideration. If it wasn’t for McCain we wouldn’t even know about her. Payback.