NBC Exit Poll in Arizona: John McCain Inspires a Handful of Ticket-Splitters
Donald Trump won his party’s nomination as the ultimate outsider to Washington and the GOP establishment. The friction between Trump and the GOP establishment turned personal in Arizona where U.S. Senator and former Republican party presidential nominee, John McCain, was up for re-election today. Trump cast aspersions on McCain as a former prisoner of war and celebrated military veteran during the campaign. McCain lashed back when Trump criticized the family of a slain soldier who was a Muslim immigrant. Both men refused to endorse the other in their respective election campaigns this year.
What’s a loyal Republican to do? According to NBC Exit Polls, about three-quarters of McCain voters kept their presidential vote within the party but about one-in-seven McCain voters chose Democrat Hillary Clinton and one-in-ten picked a third party candidate.
More than a third of McCain voters in Arizona have an unfavorable opinion of Trump and a similar share say he does not have the temperament to be an effective president. Trump may yet win the state, but his feud with John McCain made his path more difficult.