McCain Resignation Rumor Goes National

Shadegg's announcement started the rumor mill going.  Why would he decide not to run for re-election, and why announce so late?  Speculation has swirled that Shadegg knows that McCain might resign and that Shadegg's announcement puts him in a better position. 

There are only two things wrong with this theory.  First, Shadegg's office denies that McCain is going to resign and no one can figure out how Shadegg would benefit by choosing not to run.  The Business Journal has picked up the controversy, and Drudge linked to to the Journal article, so the story is now national. 

U.S. Sen. John McCain's office Wednesday countered speculation that the Arizona Republican would resign this summer to focus on his presidential bid.

McCain spokeswoman Melissa Shuffield told the Phoenix Business Journal that McCain has "no current plans" to step down from his Senate seat.

A summer resignation could create a mad dash to succeed McCain in the November election. Gov. Janet Napolitano would appoint an interim senator to serve until the November election if McCain resigns. State law requires that appointment to be of the same party as the officeholder.

Comments

[Avid Reader]

Perhaps McCain waits until the last possible instant to resign, and forces Napolitano to rush an appointment, thereby compromising the appointee's ability to both do the job and run for the seat?

[ron]

Why does Shaddegg's office even have to answer the question?

Why is Shaddegg's office even putting out a comment on the question?

You don't do such things if you aren't intimately involved in the details.

If it walks like a duck, if it quacks like a duck.....

[BobH]

If she appoints Brewer, wouldn't that allow her to take a cabinet post, while passing the governorship to a Democrat (Goddard).

[avenged Savant]

Okay, perhaps people here needs a Dem perspective. I would jump from the Capitol Dome if the governor appointed Jan Brewer. The two really don't like each other and Janet would not risk a Brewer winning that seat in 2010, as rightwing as Jan Brewer is.

Janet and Grant Woods already have a deal. She appoints him and he agrees not to run in 2010. Then Janet runs, and presumably wins, the open seat.

One thing's for certain. No way on EARTH will Janet Napolitano appoint a rightwinger. Never ever never.

[Ann]

Should a plan be in the works that would have the Governor appointing an R who is actually just a place holder for her to run and win; I say go for it! It will make the immigration fall-out look like child's play as the majority calls her out for the duplicitous action. She would certainly anger folks statewide and diminishing her electability greatly.

[Ephram]

What if by chance John Shadegg collects petitions right now and has them ready, then at the last minute John McCain resigns, Shadegg would be the only one on the November ballot. He would get to serve until 2010 and run as the encumbent. the person that Janet picks will only serve for a couple of months and wouldn't be able to run for re-election because they would have missed the cut off to turn in nominating petitions. That would also make it harder for Janet to run unless she plans on a cabinet position. My guess is Jan Brewer stays put and runs for Gov. in 2010.

[Ann]

You can't collect signatures for an election that does not exist. If, big if, McCain does resign, then an election would be called and signatures able to be collected.

[MrBojangles]

By Shadegg announcing early that he's going to step down from his House seat he increases the talent in the CD3 field for the November election - thereby assuring Lord has no chance of pulling off an upset.
Shadegg remains adamant behind the scenes that he's leaving to pursue the private sector, but I wouldn't be telegraphing the notion that I was really headed for the Senate this early either.
Look for the Gov. to appoint someone like Jack Jewett or Chris Herstram to the seat for the two or three month period leading up to November.
A condensed campaign benefits Shadegg who has the best name ID and he already has the war chest built to win an abbreviated campaign cycle.
Shadegg stands a better chance of beating Janet in 2010 as the sitting incumbent. If nothing else, he gets to serve as a Senator for two years which is a better alternative for the Republican Party than allowing the Governor to appoint a RINO for two years assuming McCain wins the Presidency in November.
Jeff Flake must be fuming over these recent developments.

[outsider]

This is how I think it will go. McCain resigns, Janet appoints herself to the seat. Jan becomes Governor, doesn't run for the seat because she can't win. Terry runs for Governor, Jim Pederson runs against him - and, maybe Phil. The republicans throw their weight behind one good candidate (preferably an outsider) and they run the tables.

[BobH]

Interesting about the Albuquerque Tribune shutting down. A shame for the folks who will lose their jobs (and who will swell that 25% of media jobs lost that I posted about earlier), but there's no way a market the size of ABQ can support two papers.

There's a town south of Phoenix with two papers that will be facing the same story soon.

Even here in Chicago, the Sun-Times has just been put up for sale and potential buyers are not battering down the doors (though I do think Chicago can support two papers for a while longer).

[BobH]

My apologies for putting the above on the wrong thread -- I'll repost it where it belongs,