ARIZONA SENATE 2010: Another Primary Challenger For McCain?

Let the polls roll with this new tidbit from the rumor mill. Former Representative J.D. Hayworth is considering a run in next year's primary against John McCain. With Simcox already in the primary race, this could get dicey.

ARIZONA SENATE 2010: Simcox Will Challenge McCain In Republican Primary

Nothing is easy for John McCain these days.  There will be no free ride for mavericks in the 2010 Arizona primary.

Border hawk and Minuteman founder, Chris Simcox, already has his website up and running. Portraying himself as the only conservative in the race, Simcox begins throwing hard blows at McCain on the issue of border security.

"[John McCain] is fully responsible for the deaths along our borders, the raging violence in Mexico and the violence we have in the streets of U.S. cities from border to border and coast to coast. We need someone to take a strong stance, say, 'Enough is enough, you're not representing us.'"

Which John McCain will show up in this election?  Will he support steps toward citizenship for illegal immigrants, as he has in the past, or will he pander to the right-wing of his party?

2010 US SENATE RACE: ARIZONA

INCUMBENT: John McCain, Republican

• First elected in 1986
• Easily defeated Stewart Starky, 77-21, in 2004
• DOB - 08/29/1936

POTENTIAL CHALLENGERS (names being tossed around): Janet Napolitano, State Attorney General Terry Goddard, Phil Gordon, Gabrielle Giffords, Jim Pederson, JD Hayworth (primary challenger?), State Treasurer Dean Martin, Congressman John Shaddegg (not running for reelection in '10), Hugh Hallman (Tempe Mayor), Chris Simcox 

2008 PRESIDENTIAL STATE RESULTS: McCain 54% Obama 45%

The Arizona bench is full of Democratic candidates who might run against John McCain in 2010. The problem in projecting McCain's challenger is that Arizona also has a wide-open Governor's race that year too.

McCain's home state performance against Barack Obama in '08 was nothing to write home about. Republicans, including John McCain himself, realize that 2010 will be a "tough race." Janet Napolitano would have been a shoe-in had President Obama not called her to serve as the Homeland Security chief.  So who's next?

It would be a very tough race, but Phil Gordon could beat John McCain..at least some believe he can. Gordon has time on his side, not to mention a western constituency that's moving away from right-wing politics and an approval rating in the 70's. If Gordon opts out of the Governor's race and puts his hat in the ring to challenge McCain, a heavyweight fight will ensue. The same can be said for Goddard, although most believe his eyes are set on the Governor's office.

We also shouldn't rule out the possibility of McCain retiring, regardless of what he's said already. He will be 74 on election day 2010. He may change his mind (or lose it) between now and then.

McCain has a tendency to lose his cool under pressure. A "tough race" isn't something he's used to, especially a race for his own seat. Hispanics abandoned McCain in 2009, a defeat that burns him still. McCain's huff-n-puff could be nocuous to his campaign in 2010 if resentment toward Hispanics resonates within the community.