Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) may be the most popular politician in the country. But no one, it seems, has told his local Republican Party.

The GOP committee for Arizona's 11th legislative district, where McCain resides, has passed a "resolution of censure and shame" accusing the lawmaker of drifting to the left on issues ranging from immigration to the filibuster -- and is urging Republicans everywhere to oppose him if he runs for president in 2008.

"We are ashamed of John McCain's betrayal of the trust Republican voters placed in him," said the resolution, passed earlier this summer. "We further state that only under extremely extraordinary circumstances will we support the candidacy of John McCain for President of the United States. We urge other Republican organizations to likewise convey to Senator McCain that they will not support his candidacy."

Rob Haney, the head of the organization, said McCain already has begun campaigning for the office and said he felt compelled to speak out now. "He's obviously running for president," Haney said. "If he gets a two-year head start, then it's almost a done deal. We have to start with him."

The state Republican Party rejected the measure as the work of a small, unrepresentative faction. McCain's office, meanwhile, issued a statement noting that the senator was reelected to a fourth term last year by more than 50 percentage points. "Senator McCain is the largest vote-getter in Arizona. He was just reelected by the highest vote margin of his career," said Mark Salter, his chief of staff. "He is grateful for the overwhelming support of Arizonans."

Posted by: Jonathan Singer / 9:26 AM | Basie! Home