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NEWS & ANALYSIS
Maricopa County Grassroots Republicans Back Romney, Diss McCain ... Yet Again Jan. 19, 2008 U.S. Sen. John McCain experienced more grief Saturday in his own back yard. The Maricopa County Republican Party precinct committeemen not only voted in favor of Mitt Romney in a straw poll of presidential candidates, but also voted McCain as the "most unacceptable" candidate. Cong. Ron Paul ran a close second as "most unacceptable." Fred Thompson finished second in the popularity poll. McCain has encountered all manner of opposition in recent years. Two groups ran recalls on him and numerous GOP groups censured him and criticized him via resolutions. He lost repeated attempts to capture his home Legislative District 11, but conservatives spurned his costly efforts. The senator finished only fifth in his home county in the popularity straw poll. Yesterday, an angry Arizona Cong. John Shadegg denounced efforts to criticize McCain. Shadegg, who has talked down to grassroots Republicans critical of McCain in the past, said McCain rightfully deserves the nomination based on courage alone. However, former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum (Pennsylvania) said recently that McCain has never gone to the Senate floor to speak in favor of GOP social platform issues and instead bucked the party by trying to persuade colleagues not to support social measures. Cong. Duncan Hunter, the most true party base conservative Republican, ran fourth but later announced he would withdraw from the race after a poor showing in South Carolina. Hunter is also considered a gubernatorial candidate in California. Precinct committeemen elected Tom Husband to succeed the popular Larry Pickard as the new chairman of the county party. Overall Votes (662 Votes): Most Acceptable (1,781 Votes): Most Unacceptable (1,949 votes): |
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