Can Palin Save McCain's Political Life? Should She?

When John McCain picked Sarah Palin to be his running mate, he did the not-yet-launched Tea Party movement a hefty favor by elevating to national prominence a woman who could lead this disparate band of grassroots conservative activists and give a powerful voice to their protests and passions. ("Death panels!") And how do the Tea Partiers pay back McCain? By trying to send him to the old folk's home.

Tea Party types have rushed to support the campaign of former Rep. J.D. Hayworth, who is challenging McCain in Arizona's Republican senatorial primary. Hayworth, who years ago left the House to become a radio talk show host in Phoenix, only moved into the race last week, but some preliminary polls put him in practically a dead heat with the four-term senator. Get the new PD toolbar!

A mere 15 months earlier, McCain was the presidential nominee of his party. Now he's a target for those conservatives who are pursuing Republican moderates (or perceived Republican moderates) the way zombies chase after non-zombies in the movies. The far-right Internet chat corners are lit up with folks denouncing "Juan Amnesty McCain" for having once been a co-author of the McCain-Feingold legislation (campaign finance reform), the McCain-Lieberman bill (climate change), and the McCain-Kennedy act (immigration reform.) Some even decry him for opposing the use of torture. It's not hard to find anti-McCain crusaders slamming the guy of being "a socialist."

That's quite an accusation for a legislator who has an 82.3 percent lifetime rating from the American Conservative Union. Hayworth did achieve a higher ranking of 97.6 percent. But on this site last week, conservative writer Matt Lewis contended that Hayworth, who had been a pork-loving legislator who became too close to convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff, was far from a perfect conservative.

people here are way overestimating J.D.'s chances. J.D. lost his House seat and he's taking on a well entrenched, relatively popular incumbent. That's an uphill fight.

This one is going to be worth a few bags of popcorn... I tend to agree with you, because of all the retirement crowd that I think is still relatively happy with him and also turn out in the 80%+ range... but the race he lost was just a congressional one with people from a limited area, not a statewide race, and his opposition dumped tons of money saturating the airwaves with bogus ads for Harry Mitchell, that completely distorted JD's record, and the sheeple bought it. I know too many people that dont have cable tv and only watch local news and read the Arizona republic to get their information... Never seen fox news and dont think they should have to pay to watch tv.... they will probably keep voting for McCain.

I would have voted for JD if I could... but he was not on my ballot. It sure seems like McCain is running scared though, and at least feels vulnerable... starting to campaign against JD before JD even got into the race, and even doubling up his ads during JD's show... That is what makes me think JD might have a chance, McCain is acting like he does!

Just picking her for VP and putting her in the limelite...

And that is all, the rest she has accomplished on her own.
She paid her dues to McCain by carrying his reluctant sorry carcass through the campaign.

Whether she endorses him or not I'll continue to support her, I would just rather that she didn't.

It sure seems like McCain is running scared though

I don't think out of state endorsements will have any effect on Arizona Republicans passing judgment on their four term Senator. What I do find interesting is that McCain solicited them in the first place. I agree, he looks like he's running scared.

But then, he's never been the fastest jet in the squadron, if you know what I mean.

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