Outside the Beltway

McCain Opens Up Large Lead In Arizona Senate Primary

Doug Mataconis · Monday, July 26, 2010 · 3 comments

For much of the summer, it seemed like John McCain might be in for the battle of his life in the Republican primary against former Congressman J.D. Hayworth. With less than a month to go before the vote, it looks like McCain has nothing to worry about:

Senator John McCain has opened a 20-point lead over former Congressman J.D. Hayworth in Arizona’s Republican Senate Primary race.

The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Likely GOP Primary Voters in the state shows McCain attracting 54% of the vote, while Hayworth earns 34%.

For Hayworth, this represents another decline in support. In April, he picked up 42% of the vote. That fell to 40% in May, 36% in June and 34% in July.

For McCain, the 54% level of support is his highest yet.

“Some other candidate” picks up seven percent (7%) support, and six percent (6%) are undecided.

Last month, McCain led 47% to 36%.

McCain has benefited from the fact that Hayworth’s campaign has been gaffe-tastic from the beginning. Had a stronger Arizona Republican — such as Jeff Flake or John Shaddegg — entered the race instead, McCain could’ve had a bigger problem.