Posted on 04/21/2009 11:51:46 AM PDT by rabscuttle385
Sen. John McCain will face a challenge from the right in next year's Republican primary, as one of the country's most prominent border hawks will announce his candidacy for Arizona's Senate seat on April 22.
Chris Simcox, who founded the Minuteman Civil Defense Corps, will file campaign paperwork today to formalize his challenge of McCain, who has angered conservative Republicans for his stances on a variety of issues - most prominently, illegal immigration and border security.
Simcox will represent a stark contrast in Republican ideology compared to that of McCain, said Eric Johnson, a senior advisor to Simcox and former staffer for Don Goldwater's gubernatorial campaign in 2006.
"He is a true, conservative Republican. His platform is what it should be," Johnson said.
Some of McCain's clashes with conservatives in the Republican Party include his sponsoring 2006 effort in Congress to reform American immigration policies and allow a "pathway to citizenship" for millions of immigrants in the country illegally. He also spearheaded campaign finance reform in 2002 and has supported efforts to limit sales of firearms at gun shows.
Johnson said Simcox's proven ability to organize a grassroots campaign will give him an advantage over McCain. And Robert Kiley, a California political consultant who will manage the campaign, said Simcox's national profile will allow him to raise the $10 million to $15 million needed to take on the entrenched senator.
"We don't think there's going to be an issue raising money," Kiley said. "There's a lot of anger out there."
Although Kiley and Johnson touted Simcox's stances on other GOP issues, such as abortion and gun control, they said immigration will play a larger role in the campaign. Simcox will push to secure the border immediately by using the National Guard. But unlike in President Bush's 2006 Operation Jump Start, in which thousands of guardsmen were sent to the border to support the Border Patrol, Simcox wants the soldiers to take an active role in stopping illegal activity and detaining people who are trying to enter the country illegally.
Johnson said the campaign also will target voters who have left the Republican Party in recent years because of dissatisfaction with elected officials whom they believe abandoned the party's principles.
"There are a lot of people who left Republicans and became independent because of McCain," Johnson said.
Chris has his critics here on FR. Thankfully, most of them are RINO cheerleader McCain supporters and are easy to spot.
Yeah, but is Simcox the right guy? I haven't studied him, but there is a bunch of trash talk out there even from Minute Men. Has the money situation been accounted for?
Getting rid of McPain is a good deal, but to replace him with a shyster wouldn't help the cause. Believe me if we get a Minute Man elected, the long knives will be out in force. He needs to be able to stand the scrutiny.
I wasn’t going to give to anymore GOPS. But I make make an exception if this guy runs.” Yes my friends” may be gone from our vernacular and none too soon...
Case closed
John will not run. It should be obvious that his mantle is being passed to Meghan
The other thing that must be done is to write to any other senators and repubs we find out who are backing McCain and tell them we’re going to toss their ass out as well. We need to make sure the RNC knows that we will give them no money if they back McCain.
Of course many of use won’t anyway after what they’ve done with Specter and (for me) putting up McCain in 08 and costing us the election.
Me too.
RINOS/Half Americans not welcome!
I don’t think he’s “out there,” except with respect to thinking the Senate is a good place for a beginner politician.
She definitely fits the mold by bashing conservatives and sucking up to liberals. She’s all over the tv cozying up to the same people who used to make fun of her.
Why would they do that? They can't beat McCain in the general, but would have a very good shot against a political newcomer with no legislative experience.
I think people assume that it's a foregone conclusion that Simcox would win the seat. The shouldn't. AZ voted for Janet Napalitano, twice - and voted her the second time by a two-to-one margin over her Republican challenger.
You can hate McCain all you like, but if he's unseated in the primary, the Arizona Republicans will be handing another Senate seat to the dems - that's in a Senate where the Dems already hold a comfortable majority. Not very politically savvy for Republicans. But, after the last four years, why would I expect anything else.
Exactly
It’ll be up to conservatives from around the country to finance this challenge to Juan McLame.
OK.
which is why I would have thought JD Hayworth could have run instead.
He knows the ropes, he is a known name and is much better than McCain
if this is a CREDIBLE threat to mccain it will divert money from OTHER potential rino primary runners.
Remember Specter is in primary trouble too.
McCain WILL have more money.
Specter will have more money.
How many OTHER rinos will be in trouble?
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