Giuliani: McCain worried about reelection

Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani said Monday that Sen. John McCain’s reelection outlook likely prompted the Arizona senator to issue a strong statement condemning Donald Trump’s recent comments about Khizr Khan, the father of a Muslim U.S. soldier killed in Iraq.

{mosads}“There is nobody who admires John McCain more and wants him to be reelected more, than me. But I think you’re hearing a guy who’s worried about whether he can be reelected in Arizona,” Giuliani, a top ally of the GOP presidential nominee, said in an interview with The Washington Post.

“John wouldn’t be saying this if he were running two years from now. He’d just keep his mouth shut.”

Khizr Khan — the father of Army Capt. Humayun Khan, who was killed during the Iraq War — gave a speech at the Democratic National Convention last week in which he criticized Trump’s call for a ban on Muslims entering the country and asked whether Trump had read the Constitution.

Trump fired back at Khizr Khan and questioned why his wife did not speak at the convention, suggesting it might have something to do with her religion. He also said Khan had no right to question him about his views on the Constitution.

McCain, who Trump mocked last summer for being captured during the Vietnam War, said in a statement issued Monday that he hoped voters would realize Trump’s comments didn’t reflect his party’s views.

“Arizona is watching. It is time for Donald Trump to set the example for our country and the future of the Republican Party,” McCain said in the statement. “While our Party has bestowed upon him the nomination, it is not accompanied by unfettered license to defame those who are the best among us.”

Giuliani said the Arizona senator, facing a tough reelection bid against Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick (D-Ariz.), is likely looking to distance himself from the GOP nominee. He first must win the state’s Aug. 30 Republican primary, where early voting starts on Wednesday.

“I want John to win, and I’ll do anything I can to help him win. In fact, if he thinks this can help him win, then go ahead and say it,” Giuliani said.

The former mayor continued to defend Trump though, saying Khizr Khan made a “highly politicized and personal attack, so I get why he’d get a little upset.” He also offered some guidance to the outspoken candidate.

“My advice is he should be battling with Hillary Clinton,” Giuliani said.

“There is no question they were being politically exploited by the Democrats, but if you leave them unanswered and get off the subject, I don’t think there will be much political impact. Ignore it and let it go off into that part of politics that is forgotten.”