John McCain To Run For Sixth Term

Arizona Senator John McCain announced last night that he will run for a sixth term in the Senate:

Arizona Sen. John McCain (R) announced late Monday night that he will seek a sixth term in the U.S. Senate, acknowledging that he may face a primary challenge from the right but insisting he’s up to the task.

“I think I have the knowledge and the background to help this nation through very perilous times and I believe I can still contribute in many ways to the welfare and benefit of my state,” McCain told NBC’s Kelly O’Donnell in an interview released late Monday.

When asked about his age – McCain will be 80 years old on Election Day 2016 and would be 86 by the end of a sixth term – the longtime Arizona senator told O’Donnell that he still keeps a grueling schedule, and isn’t concerned.

“I’m happy to tell you my mother is 103 years old and she’s doing well,” McCain said. “Watch me. Take a look at my 18-hour days. Take a look at the hearings we have. Take a look at my legislative accomplishments. Listen, I’m just getting started.”

The onetime GOP presidential nominee acknowledged criticisms from members of his own party who have, at times, questioned his conservative bona fides. In 2014, the Arizona Republican Party formally censured himfor not being sufficiently conservative — which McCain readily dismissed during his NBC interview with a joke: “I was also censured by Vladimir Putin.”

As he did in 2010, McCain is likely to face a primary challenge from the right, although it’s unclear if the Tea Party groups that would seem to be most motivated in unseating him will be any luckier than they were the last time around. Back then, several prominent Republican Members of Congress who might have posed a difficult challenge to McCain declined to run and, in the end, he was left facing off against former Congressman J.D. Hayworth whose long record of bizarre statements, which continued through the campaign, combined with McCain’s ability to move to the right when he needed to, meant that the primary fight wasn’t much of a fight this time around. Candidate selection will be an issue this time as well, with Congressmen such as Matt Salmon and Trent Franks likely to be considered strong potential candidates on the Republican side. The question will be whether McCain has one more fight left in him or not.

FILED UNDER: 2016 Election, Congress, US Politics, , , , , , , ,
Doug Mataconis
About Doug Mataconis
Doug Mataconis held a B.A. in Political Science from Rutgers University and J.D. from George Mason University School of Law. He joined the staff of OTB in May 2010 and contributed a staggering 16,483 posts before his retirement in January 2020. He passed far too young in July 2021.

Comments

  1. James Joyner says:

    I was hoping he’d retire to host a Sunday morning talk show.

  2. C. Clavin says:

    A lifetime spent at the Government trough.

  3. al-Ameda says:

    “I’m happy to tell you my mother is 103 years old and she’s doing well,” McCain said. “Watch me. Take a look at my 18-hour days. Take a look at the hearings we have. Take a look at my legislative accomplishments. Listen, I’m just getting started.”

    Possible Campaign Slogans:
    “Get Off Every Lawn in America!”
    “Lindsay and Me and a Dog named Bree”
    “More Wars, Why Not?”
    “Wait, Is the Video Rolling?”

  4. Surreal American says:

    @James Joyner:

    I was hoping he’d retire to host a Sunday morning talk show.

    “John McCain and Friends”, with permanent guests Lindsey Graham and Kelly Ayotte.

  5. gVOR08 says:

    …McCain’s ability to move to the right when he needed to…

    I refer to McCain as having “full spectrum” policy positions. Is there any position on any issue that he hasn’t held at some point? Almost as bad as Romney.

  6. Gustopher says:

    There goes my hope that he would retire and we would get a reality show based on him living in a house filled with unruly college kids.

  7. @James Joyner:

    I was hoping he’d retire to host a Sunday morning talk show.

    But who would be the guest on this Sunday morning talk show if McCain is already the host? Is he supposed to interview himself?

  8. PJ says:

    @Gustopher:
    Nice, idea, but I hired some script writers to rewrite it for you.

    …a reality show based on him living in the U.S. Capitol filled with unruly tea party fanatics.

    Camera rolling!

  9. PJ says:

    @Stormy Dragon:

    But who would be the guest on this Sunday morning talk show if McCain is already the host? Is he supposed to interview himself?

    A clone, a CGI McCain, or just a big mirror.

  10. Gromitt Gunn says:

    @PJ: That way he can take both sides of each issue at the same exact time!

  11. Tillman says:

    @Stormy Dragon: He’d basically be Ed Schultz then, wouldn’t he?

  12. Moosebreath says:

    @Surreal American:

    ““John McCain and Friends”, with permanent guests Lindsey Graham and Kelly Ayotte.”

    And Joe Lieberman taking over the Jack Germond role from the old John McLaughlin show.

  13. ernieyeball says:

    Since we are going to amend the Constitution we have to do something about these politicians who just won’t go away. Term limits must be imposed at all levels of government.

    Eighty Eight year old Bob Butler has won another term
    as mayor of Marion IL.
    Butler has served 52 years in office. This will be his 14th term.
    http://www.wsiltv.com/news/local/Vote-2015-Marion-Mayors-Race-298962361.html

  14. de stijl says:

    @Moosebreath:

    “John McCain and Friends”, with permanent guests Lindsey Graham and Kelly Ayotte.

    And Sarah Palin as Elizabeth Hasselbeck?

  15. Surreal American says:

    @Moosebreath:

    On his best day ever, Joementum could even begin to approach the awesomeness that was Jack Germond.

  16. ernieyeball says:

    Well Damn! Both thumbs are highlighted on my post above (Wednesday, April 8, 2015 at 00:34). Should I upvote myself for being so clever or should I downvote myself since I disagree with my own remarks?
    I’m certain I have not given the Dreaded Red Thumb to anyone here for well over a year.
    Maybe it’s time…

  17. Just 'nutha' ig'rant cracker says:

    @gVOR08: Yes, there is–on support for veterans not named McCain he’s been fairly consistent in his opposition.