Recent poll is not good news for John McCain, but his Trump comments have earned him still worse

by Laura Clawson for Daily Kos Elections

Daily Kos Staff

Thursday, Jun. 16, 2016 Thursday, Jun. 16, 2016 at 8:20:30am PDT

WASHINGTON, DC - March 16: Senator John McCain (R-AZ) speaks to the media outside of the Senate Chamber shortly after President Barack Obama nominated Merrick B. Garland to be an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States in the White House Rose Garden on March 16, 2016 in Washington, DC. McCain said that the confirmation of the next Justice should occur after the election. (Photo by Pete Marovich/Getty Images)

How badly does John McCain deserve to lose his Senate seat? Based on this recent justification for supporting Donald Trump for president, astonishingly badly:

“I still believe we have the institutions of government that would restrain someone who seeks to exceed their constitutional obligations,” Mr. McCain said. “We have a Congress. We have the Supreme Court. We’re not Romania.”

The government includes enough checks and balances that Trump probably couldn’t be too dangerous, although he might want to be. Great rationalization, there! Especially when you consider that Senate Republicans are engaging in a nearly year-long blockade of President Obama’s Supreme Court nomination in hopes of letting Trump pick Antonin Scalia’s replacement. If McCain’s party had its choice, nothing would stand in the way of a President Trump.

The good news (for people other than John McCain) is that McCain looks on track to lose. A poll released earlier this week showed McCain trailing Democrat Ann Kirkpatrick, drawing 41 percent to her 43 percent. A lot can change between now and November, so let’s make sure that what changes is that Kirkpatrick’s lead grows.

Please give $3 to help Ann Kirkpatrick retire John McCain and turn the Senate blue.