McCain camp knocks primary opponent ahead of announcement

An official with Sen. John McCain’s re-election campaign is mocking Arizona state Sen. Kelli Ward, who’s expected to challenge the five-term incumbent in the Republican Senate primary.

“Senator Ward’s record of bizarre statements and questionable judgment will be a key concern for Arizona voters over the next year,” spokesman Brian Rogers said Tuesday in a statement.

He charged that Ward “used taxpayer funds to explore the widely debunked conspiracy theory that U.S. aircraft are spraying ‘chemtrails’ onto American citizens for sinister purposes” last year and recently said she was “undecided on whether this wacky plot is real or not.” 

“Add to that her vocal defense of racist comments by rancher Cliven Bundy and L.A. Clippers owner Donald Sterling, and it’s no wonder why a leading conservative group recently said that Arizona Republicans are ‘worried’ about Senator Ward’s strange statements, and that they are ‘not confident that she has the right values and she will stick to her principles,’” Rogers added.

The strongly worded statement comes hours before Ward is expected to formally announce her senatorial bid against McCain incumbent at a “major event’ in Arizona.

But her campaign got a little ahead of itself on Monday.

“It’s official, I’m running for Senate,” the “about” page of Ward’s campaign website read for part of Monday, before being changed to a note that the page couldn’t be found.

The statement also shows McCain, the chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and his team is not taking Ward’s primary challenge lightly.

Many Arizona conservatives have long expressed displeasure with McCain and some of his policies.

However, he garnered more support than Ward among Arizona voters who identify as “very conservative,” according to data released earlier this year by Public Policy Polling, a Democratic firm.

Ward took only 31 percent support against McCain, who had 44 percent. 

McCain also raised $2.1 million in the first quarter, bringing his total cash on hand to over $3.6 million. 

“Arizonans know that John McCain will never stop fighting for Arizona and America, as he has his entire adult life, both in uniform and in Congress,” Rogers said.

“Senator McCain looks forward to this campaign, and to discussing his strong record of protecting America’s national security, standing up for veterans, and growing Arizona’s economy,” he added.