John McCain Campaign Calls Hayworth Attack Over Paul Babeu Ad "Desperate"

Since our earlier post about Senate hopeful J.D. Hayworth's advice to Senator John McCain that he pull a campaign ad featuring Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu, the McCain campaign got back to us and says it won't be pulling the ad.

"We know that Congressman Hayworth is desperate, but we never thought he'd sink so low as to attack a law enforcement officer who puts his life on the line every day to protect Arizonans," McCain campaign spokesman Brian Rogers tells New Times.

Earlier today, Hayworth said McCain should pull the ad because Babeu appeared on a white-supremacist radio show.

"It's unfortunate that Congressman Hayworth -- who frequently complains that liberals unfairly paint opponents of illegal immigration as racists -- would add his voice to a smear campaign driven by liberal blogs to attack a respected Sheriff fighting on the front lines in Arizona's
battle against drug and human smuggling," Rogers continues.

Babeu has since said he regrets appearing on the show. His PR flack, Tim Gaffney, took responsibility for the SNAFU.

"Senator McCain is proud of Sheriff's Babeu's work to protect the people of Pinal County and Arizona as President of the Arizona Sheriff's Association, and his demonstrated record of standing up against racism and bigotry," Rogers says.