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Two former Arizona governors jumped on board the McCain train, endorsing “The Maverick” in his bid to fend off former Congressman J.D. Hayworth, the senator’s campaign announced today.
Former governors Fife Symington and Jane Dee Hull will both back McCain in this year’s Republican primary.
Hull, who became governor when Symington resigned from office in 1997, says McCain’s commitment to Arizona is unmatched.
She didn’t seem to think so when she was governor, though. In 1999, Hull endorsed George W. Bush as the Republican Party’s candidate for president. At the time, McCain was in a heated primary with “Dubya.”
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McCain has picked up the endorsements of several prominent Republicans, including 31 of Arizona’s mayors, such as Phoenix’s Phil Gordon, Tempe’s Hugh Hallman, Glendale’s Elaine Scruggs, Scottsdale’s Jim Lane, Peoria’s Bob Barrett, and Mesa’s Scott Smith.
McCain also has the support of Senator Jon Kyl and Arizona congressmen Jeff Flake, John Shadegg, and Trent Franks.
McCain is planning to drop a Palin-bomb on Arizona next month, when his former running mate, former Alaska Governor Sarah, joins him on the campaign trail to try to drum up the conservative base Hayworth relies on.
Hayworth, on the other hand, has the support of Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio, and Minutemen co-founder Chris Simcox. So he’s, um, got that goin’ for him.
