McCain-Hayworth Debate Gets Ugly

In the first debate of this heated primary, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) and former Arizona Rep. J.D. Hayworth traded barbs Friday night, chuckling only at each other’s answers. (Late-entry Tea Party candidate Jim Deakin was there, too.) McCain kicked off the nastiness, criticizing Hayworth for an infomercial he cut in 2007 that taught people how to get money from the federal government. Hayworth replied that McCain’s mistakes had hurt America more in his bank bailout and immigration votes. Each pol tried to out-conservative the rest. All three opposed extending unemployment benefits, despite Arizona’s high jobless rate. McCain was reluctant to debate Hayworth, a former talk radio host, pushing the events to weekend nights.