National Review Endorses McCain in Primary

Arizona Sen. John McCain’s re-election campaign has gained an important endorsement from an influential conservative publication, National Review.

“This magazine has not always agreed with Sen. John McCain’s judgments,” the endorsement on National Review’s website notes. “But there are three considerations that militate against dumping McCain for his primary challenger, former congressman J.D. Hayworth.”

The first is that McCain has consistently voted on the conservative side on important issues — he has never supported a broad-based tax hike, voted for every conservative Supreme Court nominee, and has a long pro-life record.

Second, McCain has unmatched credibility on national security and demonstrated his leadership by encouraging the “surge” of American forces in Iraq.

Third, McCain has a better record than Hayworth on controlling federal spending. Hayworth in fact appeared in infomercials telling people how to get “free money” from the government, according to National Review, which concludes:

“If McCain had a different challenger, we might think differently. But taken together, these considerations move us to suggest that Arizona Republicans nominate Senator McCain. If ever we needed legislators who favor a resolute foreign policy and budget restraint, that time is now.”