John McCain

Sen. John McCain's involvement in a land deal between the federal government and a company whose principals have helped raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for him is the subject of a USA Today report out this morning. Yet McCain wasn't the only Arizona politician who supported the deal, according to a McCain spokesman, nor was he the only one who received financial backing from the company in question.

According to the story, McCain was instrumental in securing the acquisition of several hundred acres surrounding Luke Air Force Base from SunCor in 2003. SunCor's parent company, Pinnacle West, and its executives are major contributors to McCain, and the story indicates that McCain relaxed his "no pork" stance by appropriating the funds for the land purchase.

What the USA Today article failed to mention, according to a McCain spokesman, is that the deal was supported by the entirety of Arizona's congressional delegation - many of whom also count Pinnacle West and its officers among their top contributors.

Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean came to Phoenix Tuesday to strategize with Democratic volunteers, bolster the belief that Sen. John McCain is beatable in Arizona and discuss downticket races.

Now the Arizona Democratic Party has released the podcast of Dean's talk with the party's new media communications manager, Jeff Goodman. In it, Dean discusses McCain's weaknesses, touts Democratic congressional candidates and finally reveals which candidate he DNC chair supports... on American Idol.

Don't expect Sen. Jon Kyl to be a presidential runningmate. In a survey of the U.S. Senate's membership not already running for president on whether they'd consider accept an offer to be vice president, The Hill newspaper found a variety of responses to the veepstakes question. Some were accompanied by laughs, others took the question seriously.

With his colleague John McCain presumptively the Republican nominee, how did Republican Jon Kyl respond?

When Howard Dean says "50 state strategy," he means it.

The Chairman of the Democratic National Committee was in Phoenix today, home turf of the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, to assert that, even in Sen. John McCain's front yard, the Democrats will come to play.

Dean addressed a group of Democratic volunteers who will be organizing on behalf of the party's eventual presidential nominee, who will most likely be Barack Obama. All indications are that, despite obvious disadvantages, the Democratic Party is not excusing itself from a fight in Arizona.

According to a blog report today in the LA Times, Ron Paul’s supporters are looking to make a statement and to embarrass John McCain in Minnesota.  The report says Paul’s forces have been organizing across the country to stage an embarrassing public revolt against McCain. According to the latest numbers, Ron Paul has roughly 19 delegates to Minn.  If a tree falls in the woods and no one is there to see it, does it make noise?

Anyone expecting a repeat of Nevada's Republican Party Convention today was sorely mistaken. Despite an effort to secure the election of supporters of Rep. Ron Paul as delegates to the Republican National Convention in September, the "Unity Slate," crafted by the party to ensure that only delegates who fully support the state's favorite son would be represent Arizona in Minneapolis this September, was elected with almost no changes.

Although locked in an oft-rancorous primary contest, either Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) or Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) would best Sen. John McCain in the national popular vote, according to a new L.A. Times poll out today.

While neither Clinton nor Obama enjoy an insurmountable lead by any means, both Democrats have improved their position over McCain since polls taken in the last two months.

The Washington Post is reporting John McCain pushed a land swap deal in Arizona that benefited a financial and political backer of his.  The McCain campaign is saying the story is inaccurate. 

George W. Bush and John McCainJohn McCain is bringing President George W. Bush back to his home state to do a fundraiser later this month. The May 27th $2,300/person event will be held in Phoenix. Donors can donate as much as $37,000 where the first $2,300 will go to McCain’s campaign and the rest will be distributed among other friendly organizations.

McCain and StewartArizona's senior Senator John McCain has set a new record. On Wednesday May 7, McCain made his 13th appearance on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. McCain’s 13th appearance makes him the most frequent guest ever on The Daily Show.