McCain faces fight from own voters

[Judi Lynn]

Feb. 17, 2007, 12:50AM
McCain faces fight from own voters

By JENNIFER STEINHAUER
New York Times

SURPRISE, ARIZ. — The chairman of the local Republican Party here in the most populous county in Arizona has in his possession a bright yellow button with a black line slashed through the name McCain.

"I don't wear it out very often," said the chairman, Lyle Tuttle of the Maricopa County Republican Committee, in a slightly sheepish coda to a 20-minute vituperation about the state's senior senator, served up from his living room chair.
(snip)

Meanwhile, disgusted with McCain's position on proposed changes to immigration laws (he advocates legalization that would not require illegal immigrants to leave the country), with what some see as wavering on the issue of gay marriage (he lent his name to a state ballot initiative to ban it but did not support a constitutional amendment), and with the campaign finance act that bears his name, some Arizona Republicans are making trouble for McCain.

They have elected local party leaders whom he opposes, criticized his policy positions and thrown early support to other potential primary candidates — all to trip McCain on his own doorstep.
(snip/...)

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/nation/4560811.html

[Lobster Martini]

1. The Houston Chronicle didn't print the whole article.

The Houston Chronicle did not print the entire article and the headline is different. Here's the full article in the NY Times: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/17/us/politics/17arizona.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1. It may be necessary to register if you haven't already, but it's free.

The altered headline is interesting. The NY Times headline is "Back at Home, McCain Annoys the G.O.P. Right." There is a difference between facing a fight and being annoying. And I confess, I like this analogy: "...a fringe of the raucous state party that will be flattened like pita bread once primary day arrives next year."

[LiberalFighter]

2. What will the PEOPLE of Arizona do when they vote in their primary

Should be interesting. If they vote for McCain despite the efforts of the Arizona Republicants will they explode?