WASHINGTON (AFP) – John McCain, who lost to President Barack Obama in the 2008 White House race, faced a surprise challenge Monday for his Arizona Senate seat from a Republican rival who cast him as soft on liberals. "I do have serious and profound disagreements with John about the choices he?s made as senator," said challenger John David "J.D." Hayworth, a former member of Congress and conservative radio talkshow host.
"In fact, John is best known for taking the leftist liberals? side on some of the most important issues of the day."
Taking advantage of a political climate unfavorable to incumbents, Hayworth criticized McCain for voting in favor of a massive government bailout of the financial system in October 2008.
McCain responded by announcing he had the support of 31 Arizona mayors.
"I've been involved in primaries before," McCain said.
"I'm confident that the people of Arizona, again, will judge me on not what I have done for them but what they think I can do for them in these most difficult times. And I intend to go out and earn every single vote."
McCain, who was first elected to Congress in 1983, retains strong support in the polls. The latest Rasmussen poll on January 20 gave him 53 to 31 percent advantage over his rival.
But Hayworth, 51, who supports the conservative "Tea Party" movement, has used his radio talk show to attack McCain, 73, as a Washington insider who has made common cause with Democrats.
"'Maverick' is just a code-word for moderate. In fact, John is best known for taking the liberals? side on some of the most important issues of the day," he said.
"Just like the liberals, John.... opposes 'waterboarding' captured terrorists like the Christmas bomber," he said.
The fight for the Republican nomination promises to be a slugfest.
Hayworth has vowed to resurrect McCain's links to Charles Keating, a banker at the center of a 1989 savings and loan failure who allegedly used political donations to get McCain and four other senators to argue for preferential treatment from regulators.
McCain for his part could raise Hayworth's links to former lobbyist Jack Abramoff, who was found guilty in 2006 of trading gifts, meals and sports trips for political favors.
Hayworth served in the House of Representatives from 1997 to 2007, but was defeated by a Democrat, Harry Mitchell, in November 2006.
McCain is expected to use the week-long congressional recess this month to campaign in Arizona
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