Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick, a Democrat, said Tuesday she’ll try to unseat Sen. John McCain.
McCain, R-Ariz., the Republicans’ 2008 presidential nominee, is seeking a sixth Senate term. He’s endured some criticism from hardcore conservatives who see him as too accomodating to Democrats, but has nevertheless built a strong conservative record. McCain, 78, a prisoner of war for 5 1/2 years during the Vietnam War, is chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee.
Kirkpatrick, 65, is now in her third term as a House member, and won her seat last year with 52 percent of the vote. McCain won his last Senate race, in 2010, easily with 59 percent. Democrats are hoping for a bigger turnout in 2016 than in 2014 in a state whose demographics are changing somewhat.
Kirkpatrick’s campaign released a video saying, “"I respect John McCain's service to our nation. I just believe our state's changing."
She portrayed herself as a hard working Arizona resident. "I know that Washington insiders are already trying to dig up dirt. But having grown up here, a little mud on my boots is part of life,” she said.