Conor Ralph/Reuters
Hours before Sen. John McCain passed away Saturday following a battle with brain cancer, a Republican Senate candidate in Arizona reportedly claimed on Facebook that the legendary “maverick” had tried to harm her campaign by releasing a statement announcing his decision to end medical treatment. “I think they wanted to have a particular narrative that they hope is negative to me,” Kelli Ward wrote. Her comments came in response to a post from a supporter who questioned whether it was “just a coincidence” that the McCain family released a statement about the senator’s deteriorating health just as Ward began her campaign, or meant to “take media attention” away from Ward. The posts were deleted after McCain’s death was announced late Saturday, but several screenshots were still circulating on social media. Ward later issued a statement on Facebook offering condolences to the McCain family and blasting the “media, the left, and the Establishment” for “attacking me over fake stories.”