Mitt Romney will endorse Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., for a sixth term next week as the Arizona looks to fend off a conservative primary challenger in 2016.
According to McCain’s campaign website and an event page, Romney is set to be a “special guest” at a rally for the longtime senator on Dec. 12 before a crowd of 1,000 at Dobson High School in Mesa, Ariz., which comes less than nine months before the primary election in August 2016.
Spokespersons for both Romney and McCain confirmed the event.
“John McCain is proud to have the support of Gov. Mitt Romney, a good friend and a great American who is a popular leader in Arizona,” said Lorna Romero, a McCain spokesperson, in a statement to the Washington Examiner. “Our campaign is focused on the issues of most importance to the people of Arizona such as creating quality jobs, boosting our state’s economy and protecting our veterans. We look forward to a great rally with Gov. Romney and many McCain supporters on Dec. 12.”
McCain, a long time target of conservatives, has so far been able to avoid squaring off against Tea Party lawmakers like Reps. Matt Salmon and Paul Gosar.
But just like his 2010 race, McCain has a conservative primary challenger. This time it’s state Sen. Kelli Ward, a physician from Lake Havasu City. In 2010, McCain handily defeated conservative former Congressman J.D. Hayworth, 56 percent to 32 percent, in the primary five years ago. Next year’s Arizona Republican senatorial nominee will likely match up against Democratic Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick, who announced her candidacy for the seat in May.
While Romney and McCain battled fiercely for the GOP presidential nomination in 2008, the pair have had a detente of sorts since. Notably, the Arizona senator endorsed Romney over former Sen. Rick Santorum prior to the 2012 New Hampshire primary, saying the decision came down to “the dog-on-roof guy or the man-on-dog guy,” adding that “I’m with the dog-on-roof guy.”
Lately, Romney has made a reappearance in the public eye, coming out to criticize President Barack Obama for his foreign policy after the terror attack in Paris on Nov. 13.
