Incumbent John McCain is the candidate for U.S. Senate in Arizona with nearly universal name recognition.
He is much better known than his Republican primary race opponents: former state Sen. Kelli Ward, Alex Melusky and Clair Van Steenwyk. Yet, another Republican who is not in the race, Donald Trump, may influence the outcome.
Trump’s influence may be stronger than McCain’s name, campaign advertising or anything the candidates themselves say, one consultant said.
“I don’t think Donald Trump is helpful for any Republicans running down ballot across the country,” said Matthew Benson, a former communications director for Gov. Jan Brewer.
McCain has acknowledged that the emotions stirred by Trump make his race more difficult.
He does, when asked, say he supports “the Republican nominee” without naming Trump.
“I’ve thought for quite a while that I have a very tough race, and anybody who takes an election for granted in this environment is not aware of the anger and dissatisfaction that is out there,” McCain said.
While he said he worries about what Trump's presidential candidacy can do to other Republicans, one of his Senate challengers sees it another way.
“People are done, they are frustrated, upset, disappointed and disgusted with what’s happening,” Ward said. “So I think it helps me.”
Pundits and strategists don’t think Ward has much of a chance. Her argument though, resonates.
“It is a smart one in an anti-establishment, populist year like this," Benson said. "But unfortunately for Kelli Ward it’s not enough."
Arizona’s Senate race is one of the most watched in the nation. Most of the national coverage barely gives Ward notice and rarely mentions Melusky or Van Steenwyk.
In a poll conducted in May, Melusky and Van Steewyk were each polling in the low, single digits. Ward was at 26 percent to McCain’s 39 percent. Nearly a quarter of voters were still undecided.
Pundits expect McCain to cruise to victory in the August primary. But campaign staff members said they are taking the challenge seriously.
“He has to get through the primary before he can focus totally on the general,” McCain campaign spokeswoman Lorna Romero said.
Yet the campaign is preparing for both the primary and the general election. It is going after Kelli Ward with ads and in social media and is doing the same to the lone Democrat in the race, U.S. Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick.
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