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John McCain's 2016 Tightrope
nationaljournal.com ^ | 6/4/15 | Andrea Drusch

Posted on 06/04/2015 5:22:23 PM PDT by cotton1706

The last time John McCain ran for reelection, his strategy was clear. Up against tea-party-backed primary challenger J.D. Hayworth, McCain tacked right on a host of issues, moving away from a then-recent string of moderate stances that had roiled Arizona conservatives. Most notably, the avowed champion of comprehensive immigration reform filmed a memorable ad vowing to "complete the danged fence" along the state's border with Mexico.

The strategy worked. McCain burnished his credentials with conservatives, buried the lesser-known Hayworth in ads, and won his primary by 20 points, moving on to cruise through the general election (over former Tucson Councilman Rodney Glassman) with nearly 60 percent of the vote.

In 2016, McCain's path to victory is already more complicated. Conservative groups have again named him a top target, saying his voting record reveals a moderate who feints to the right in a bid to fool voters before reelection. The tea party may or may not get its favorite to challenge McCain in Rep. Matt Salmon, but a strong challenge from the Right appears inevitable. And this time around, if McCain heads right to head off the Right's challenge, he's more likely to pay for it later.

Democratic Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick became a surprise entry into the race last week. She's a three-term House member with a history of winning in one of the country's most competitive swing districts, which she did most recently in 2014—improving on her 2012 showing at a time when a red wave was sweeping Democrats out of their seats en masse. Factor in her proven track record as a fundraiser, and she represents the strongest Democrat to challenge McCain since he first ran for the seat in 1986.

(Excerpt) Read more at nationaljournal.com ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: elections
Phase I: take the Senate back from the democrats - complete!

Phase II: take the Senate back from the republicans

Removing John McCain from power is a major priority!

1 posted on 06/04/2015 5:22:23 PM PDT by cotton1706
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To: cotton1706

“We are all wacko-birds now”.


2 posted on 06/04/2015 5:29:01 PM PDT by Sirius Lee (All that is required for evil to advance is for government to do "something")
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To: cotton1706
May it do a Wallah on him.
3 posted on 06/04/2015 5:38:00 PM PDT by SandRat (Duty - Honor - Country! What else needs said?)
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To: cotton1706

The Wallendas circus troupe walk the high wire during their three-tier, seven-man pyramid performance at the State Fair Coliseum in Detroit, Michigan on Jan. 30, 1962.

http://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/detroit/2014/11/03/wallendas-fatal-fall-detroit-circus/18405583/


4 posted on 06/04/2015 5:54:01 PM PDT by SandRat (Duty - Honor - Country! What else needs said?)
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To: JRandomFreeper

Woot, there it is!


5 posted on 06/04/2015 6:07:24 PM PDT by definitelynotaliberal (I believe it ! He's alive! Sweet Jesus!)
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To: cotton1706; All
"John McCain's 2016 Tightrope..."

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6 posted on 06/04/2015 6:16:25 PM PDT by musicman (Until I see the REAL Long Form Vault BC, he's just "PRES__ENT" Obama = Without "ID")
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To: cotton1706
"McCain tacked right on a host of issues, moving away from a then-recent string of moderate stances that had roiled Arizona conservatives."

In other words

...HE'S A LIAR!

7 posted on 06/04/2015 6:23:02 PM PDT by Baynative (For someone to get something without paying for it, someone else must pay for it without getting it.)
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To: cotton1706

I’m going to send $$ to whomever primaries McCain. I want a conservative who will give us 3 things: 1) Tax cuts, 2) immigration reforms and 3) Rein in the Government.


8 posted on 06/04/2015 8:07:35 PM PDT by ExCTCitizen (I'm ExCTCitizen and I approve this reply. If it does offend Libs, I'm NOT sorry...)
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To: cotton1706

It didn’t help that his last primary opponent was such a clown.

When I hear J D Hayworth’s sing-song condescending voice it freaks me out to think HE was almost in Congress.


9 posted on 06/04/2015 8:26:56 PM PDT by Mr. K (Palin/Cruz - to defeat HilLIARy/Warren)
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To: cotton1706

Every time we think we finally beat McCain and Linda, we always end up losing. It is the two most frustrating elections in the United States. One day both will be gone from Congress. A great day that will be.


10 posted on 06/04/2015 9:15:46 PM PDT by napscoordinator (Walker for President 2016. The only candidate with actual real RESULTS!!!!! The rest...talkers!)
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To: cotton1706

....and it STILL cost him $20 a vote to win the primary (CONSERVATIVE money, I might add, that people held their noses and gave him because he might be slightly better than Ebola. After which, he endorsed his opponent, threw the election, and kept their money to spend defeating a more conservative Republican. Asshole!)


11 posted on 06/04/2015 9:27:53 PM PDT by Still Thinking (Freedom is NOT a loophole!)
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