Hayworth Supporters Call on Conservative Rival to Withdraw in Arizona

Fearing that he will siphon support from former congressman J. D. Hayworth in his bid to unseat John McCain, a conservative group opposed to illegal immigration is calling on long-shot candidate Jim Deakin to drop his bid for the U.S. Senate in Arizona’s August 24 Republican primary.

The Americans for Legal Immigration Political Action Committee (ALIPAC), an anti-immigration group strongly opposed to any form of amnesty for illegal aliens, is actively supporting Hayworth for the U.S. Senate.

“Unfortunately, Mr. Deakin’s continued candidacy has a strong chance of handing the election to John McCain, yet he has almost no significant chance of winning the race according to numerous polls and historical election models,” said longtime political consultant and fundraiser William Gheen, the organization’s president.

“Mr. Deakin is either a true American patriot who wants to see real change in Washington who will help us defeat McCain, or he is someone playing the role of spoiler for D.C. influences that want John McCain to return to Washington,” said Gheen.

While not officially commenting on ALIPAC’s statement, a spokesman for the Hayworth campaign said that a vote for Deakin is essentially a vote for McCain.

The little-known Deakin, who took part in last night’s televised debate with McCain and Hayworth and will participate in tonight’s second debate in Tucson, has vowed to remain in the race, maintaining that he’s the true conservative in the race and the best candidate to defeat McCain.

“It is obvious the Hayworth camp is grasping for any help they can muster,” said Deakin, who’s also strongly opposed to illegal immigration.

A Navy veteran and businessman, the 44-year-old political newcomer from Phoenix had only raised $34,200 as of June 30 in his uphill struggle against the better-financed McCain and Hayworth campaigns, but said that he recently hired professionals to run his campaign.

A Rocky Mountain Poll released Wednesday showed the once-vulnerable McCain significantly widening his lead over the hemorrhaging Hayworth, whose campaign has been steadily unraveling since the revelation of the former congressman’s role as a pitchman in an infomercial in 2007 promising “free government money.”

Conducted by the Behavior Research Center between June 30 and July 11, the Rocky Mountain Poll showed the four-term lawmaker with a commanding 45-point lead over Hayworth — 64% to 19% — among Republicans and independents likely to vote in next month’s GOP primary. Deakin, a self-described Tea Party activist, was favored by five percent.

A Rasmussen Reports survey on June 22, taken shortly before news of Hayworth’s infamous infomercial, showed McCain leading by only eleven percentage points, at which point Rasmussen prematurely included the longtime Arizona Senator on its list of potentially vulnerable candidates