Campaign hits bumpy road in McCain’s home district
John McCain’s slate for important state convention delegates, was unable to muster the necessary votes to win in his own home district.
His list included three GOP precinct committeemen who had endorsed Democrat Janet Napolitano for governor and whose names appeared on the pro-abortion WISH List: Sharon Harper, Kahryn Nix and Brenda Sperduti.
The election loss dealt an embarrassing blow to the presumptive Republican presidential nominee.
Along with the cookies, cupcakes and McCain lapel stickers, a “Recommended McCain Delegates to State Convention,” list printed on McCain’s letterhead was distributed to committeemen entering the meeting. Previously, letters were mailed and follow-up phone calls made, to ensure support for McCain’s hand-picked slate.
Hopefully McCain will have better luck at the national convention.
April 9, 2008 at 12:11 pm
Cupcakes are so déclassé. They definitely should go with wine and cheese at the national convention.
April 9, 2008 at 12:36 pm
Wine? Cindy McCain is a beer mogul. Free brewskis, mustard pretzels and mini steak sandwiches would have had a better effect on those stubborn conservatives. They like red meat. Plus, the free beer would have pocketbook appeal. Cupcakes are for pre-schoolers. Bad idea.
April 9, 2008 at 1:02 pm
This is not the first time McCain has encountered mega hurdles in his home district. Those elected precinct committeemen simply know him too well to trust him. What a humiliation for a presidential candidate in his own backyard.
April 9, 2008 at 1:27 pm
Could this be a predictor of future events? This is a serious setback for McCain on the home front. His aides and supporters must be hoping this isn’t widely read. It’s a huge embarrassment. I also wonder if this will have ‘legs’ that could create havoc at the upcoming state convention.
April 9, 2008 at 2:06 pm
When the 2006 elections were held for precinct committeemen in Sen. John McCain’s former home precinct, there were seven open positions. Seven people ran for those open seats. McCain was not even the highest vote getter in that small pool. His wife received more votes than he did, as did the County Recorder and the director of the AZ Dept. of Health Services, who previously lost a state senate race. The McCain’s have since moved to another precinct within the same district.
Check it out:
http://recorder.maricopa.gov/electionresults/092006_pc_leg_OFFICIAL.pdf
Go to Dist. 11, Wilder precinct.
April 9, 2008 at 2:29 pm
McCain says he is pro-life–although how that squares with his votes for embryonic stem cell and fetal tissue research is a mystery. But even taking him at his word, why would he sign on pro-abortion WISH Listers? It doesn’t take a genius to realize that this won’t wash with political conservatives.
April 9, 2008 at 4:18 pm
As I’ve long said, “Those who know him best, like him least.”
(And, please don’t take me to task for quoting myself. Simetimes I’m just the most reliable source!!)
April 9, 2008 at 6:52 pm
It’s not about the cookies and cupcakes – it’s about the crumbs.
April 9, 2008 at 7:06 pm
Good observation, RA! You’re not just analytical, you’re downright funny!!!
Those McCainiacs must have been in shock!
April 9, 2008 at 10:21 pm
Heartwarming to see not ONE of McCain’ts picks is voting at the State Convention. Wow! This is a huge statement by the upstanding Conservative LD-11. Way to go, very admirable. Not surprisingly, there was not one peep about this in today’s fish wrapper. They would have trumpeted victory for McLame’s slate loud and clear.
During this Delegates Election season the RINOS are reaching out beyond LD-11 with questionable tactics employed to frustrate Conservatives and stack the deck in their own favor. I think we may be hearing more about Delegate Election practices taking place in other Districts before this is all over.
April 9, 2008 at 10:32 pm
Seems all of the committeemen who never bother showing up at the district meeting showed up last night. They still couldn’t carry McCain’s water. Reminds me of the old nursery rhyme—” All the king’s horses and all the king’s men, couldn’t put Humpty Dumpty together again.”
Make no mistake, this was a major blow. McCain is probably fuming. He expected more and got less than nothing. If the MSM catches this, he will be mortified. Last year at the state meeting of elected PC’s they conducted a straw poll and California Congressman Duncan Hunter beat hometown boy McCain by a wide margin.
April 9, 2008 at 11:21 pm
But the cupcakes were so delicious as I waited to cast the Haney slate. Thanks. Bring some more to State. I like the beer idea. Bud imports some good ones. Tsing Tao anyone?
April 10, 2008 at 2:01 am
After two dismal showings in Dist 11, I wonder if the old “straight shooter” is looking to replace the Lynch Gals & Shiree. But who else would be so willing to do his bidding? I guess he has the whole WISH List of pro-aborts to chose from or the Gullets. I heard even the McCain flak, pro-abortion advocate and former National Committeeman, Mike Hellon, came in from Tucson to supervise the McCain endeavor. All for naught. Johnny boy cannot be pleased.
April 10, 2008 at 2:16 am
Why do they try so hard? Anyone going to the national convention HAS to vote for John McCain anyway, so what difference does it make who does it? McCain can’t beat Haney in that district, so why risk the humiliation and keep trying? Especially when he wins nothing… If I were McCain, I’d make sure Haney got elected to the National Convention just to see Haney cast his vote for John McCain. That would be something McCain would really enjoy.
April 10, 2008 at 2:52 am
Can anyone tell me if Fife Symington was on the McCain Slate or in attendance? Just curious. He played such a major role in the last fiasco. How about the Pro-illegal alien advocate, Mac Magruder? Did he show?
April 10, 2008 at 7:57 am
You Conservatives can make all the cute remarks you like, but we have already fixed it so you can’t win. McCain, Obama, or Clinton! It is a done deal. We will have a liberal president. Laugh that one off Suckers, I am reminded of an often quoted add…”He takes a shellacin but keeps on tickin” . We just gave you a finely tuned Timex watch who will never give you the “Right” time. HA,HA,HA,HA,HA,HA. Rush can talk about causing CHAOS all he wants, but we have already destroyed the Republican Party. You conservatives have been outfoxed again by us RINOS. You are such dopes.
April 10, 2008 at 8:56 am
Fife Symington was nowhere to be seen. Interesting, in that he was one of those running as a district officer when the McCain storm troopers marched in to take over the district a while back. Symington had never previously attended a meeting and has never returned. So much for loyal commitment to the district. The “commitment,” such as it is, is far more self-focused than that.
This is the major reason the elected PC’s in the district are not interested in hostile takeover attempts. They are not fools and certainly not conned by “big names” with newfound interest in district politics.
April 10, 2008 at 11:12 am
Carrie:
Nope, Former Gov.Fife Symington was not on the Mccain slate. Apparently his deep commitment to the district has waned. Or, maybe he sees the futility in trying to buck the district chairman. After all, he is merely a toppled governor, and the district chairman obviously still enjoys a powerful amount of clout.
Think about the magnitude of what occurred here. It’s HUGE!! Sen. John Mccain, the presumptive GOP presidential standard bearer, remains unable to win in his own home district!! This is not the first time, but it is certainly the most devastating.
April 10, 2008 at 11:45 am
mccain is the Republican nominee due only to brand recognition. After 20 something years in Congress he’s a household word. Problem is….for all the wrong reasons. Hunter & Tancredo who? Just the best nomiees for President, that’s who.
April 10, 2008 at 9:14 pm
Just when I decide to openly suport McCain – I go to the Dist. 11 meeting only to be confronted by the “Lynch mob” Jane, Ann & Bob trying to stick McCain stickers on my clothing. What an insult! Who in the hell do they think I’m going to vote for-Obama? Deb & Wes Gullet were also there reminding us all that Deb works for the Democrat Mayor of Phoenix. Unfortunately these are the people McCain chooses to surround himself with. YOU ARE KNOWN BY THE COMPANY YOU KEEP.
April 10, 2008 at 11:12 pm
Look for a large number of McCain’s RINOs to get positions in his administration if he is elected. Then tell me again how conservative he is. Repeat his new mantra over and over again, “I am a conservative” The massive uninformed public will believe it.
April 11, 2008 at 8:58 am
To this outsider it appears there are few real Republicans in District 11. Who could possibly benefit from this District 11 anti-McCain PR other than the Democrat presidential candidate? My educated guess: either Clinton’s, or Obama’s, or the DNC’s operatives successfully infiltrated and built a large nest of impostors.
April 11, 2008 at 9:15 am
Watchdog:
I am not an “outsider“–in fact, very much an “insider.”
Conservative AZ Republicans are not supportive of McCain because he is a liberal. You don’t indicate whether or not you live in the state, but we know him. This is especially true of those of us who live in his district and have been subjected to his ruthless shenanigans over the years. He has never represented us, and in fact, has gone out of his way to slap us around. We’re tired of his backhand and of him.
April 11, 2008 at 1:56 pm
Watchdog:
Let me get this straight. McCain has played the lovable maverick to the adoring press for a couple of decades, dissing Republicans, the Constitution and the platform along the way with his profanity and ill temper. Now you are forbidding us to turn the tables on him. Can’t we now play the lovable maverick role as well? If he can destroy the country with open immigration, refuse us access to our own oil thereby destroying our economy, etc,etc,etc. why can’t we now just tell him to go jump and be loved for being such straight talking mavericks?
The imposter is McCain, not the PCs who are loyal to the Constitution and Platform.
April 13, 2008 at 5:19 pm
Carrie Mason has it right. I’m fed up with McCain pandering to illegals (thanks for putting Juan Hernandez on your staff, John) as if they’re ever going to vote for a Republican anyway. Oh, they’ll vote, no doubt, if he manages to give them amnesty — oh, I’m sorry — I mean “a path to citizenship” as a reward for breaking US laws by sneaking into the country.
Don’t worry, Watchdog — none of us wants BHO or Mrs. Clinton as president, but I think it’s pretty ridiculous that the media got to pick the Republican candidate right out of the starting gate, and gave no coverage to real Republicans like Tancredo. They must just be eating this up.
So, McCain-preferred state delegates notwithstanding — sorry I wasn’t on your list, Mr. McCain — I’ll be at the state convention anyhow. If John McCain wants to be loved by Republicans who are stuck with him, he needs to stop acting like a liberal. The people of Arizona are fed up with Republicans who do things such as rewarding illegal aliens with citizenship. Of course, now we’ll probably get stuck with Napolitano as his replacement, unless a whole bunch of us stop whining and vote in a conservative Republican in his place.
April 13, 2008 at 6:30 pm
I’m with Maggie — beer and pretzels !!!
April 14, 2008 at 2:39 pm
[...] happened again. The buzz is that over the weekend, yet another district blew off the McCain slate of state [...]
April 16, 2008 at 11:57 am
[...] Red AZ covered the district 11 debacle last week—scooping Associated [...]
April 16, 2008 at 8:57 pm
[...] Seeing Red AZ reported more than a week ago: John McCain’s slate for important state convention delegates, was unable to muster the necessary votes to win in his own home district. [...]
April 27, 2008 at 2:50 pm
[...] slates have encountered problems in various Arizona legislative districts as his committed delegates to the May 10 state convention [...]
April 28, 2008 at 2:10 pm
[...] You might recall the name Brenda Sperduti. If your memory bank has more important matters taking up space, a quick refresher is available here. [...]