(CNN) - Play word association with the name "John McCain" and "maverick" is certain to pop up.
After all, McCain's presidential campaign repeatedly dubbed the Arizona Republican "the original maverick" and late last month McCain's former running mate, Sarah Palin, urged a crowd in Tucson to "send the maverick back to the Senate!"
But there's only one problem: McCain, who faces a difficult primary challenge from the right, says he's no maverick.
"I never considered myself a maverick," the senator told Newsweek this week. "I consider myself a person who serves the people of Arizona to the best of his abilities."
McCain faces a primary challenge from former Rep. J.D. Hayworth and has come under criticism for being too moderate on a variety of issues, including immigration. Several leading Tea Party activists in Arizona have decided not to endorse McCain or Hayworth, criticizing both of their records while serving in Congress.
Palin, who remains popular with the conservative voters McCain is hoping to court, campaigned with the Arizona senator last month. It was the first time the two appeared publicly since their 2008 bid for the White House came to an end.
Following Palin's recent appearance for McCain, the senator's campaign released a 90-second video of the two .
From CNN Politics
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Well since he bought a copy of my book at ebooks2010com, I will continue to support him in what he does. A special thanks goes to his fellow Tea Party supporters that bought a copy too : ) ebooks2010com
Well, well well... so you chnaged your mind now that you need your crazy tea party base huh? and the old outdated soon to die off party of no and we want more of the same?
The world will not be fit to live in until the last polition is hung with the entrails from the last preacher, rabbi, and amam!
McCain is getting senile. Did not remember what he said a little over a year ago.
This is beyond my beliefs! McCain, have you forgotten you compared the President with Paris Hilton calling them "Celebrities", while calling yourself "the original maverick"! Now its no more!!!!!
Oh No – is McCain a filp flopper – so I guess that maverky thing is not working out so well for the Senator. someone needs to give Ms..Palin a heads up if the good Senator is going to change his MO.
Personally I would rather have some consistency in my Senator.
this smacks of "say whatever it takes to win." No thanks McCain
I used to respect this man. Pick a path, and stick with it, not whatever is politically popular at the minute.
Mr.McCain just retire and go home to enjoy time with your family is about time..Thanks for your service is time for new people in the Senate. BTW Sara Palin association with you is just sad.
No, he's not a maverick. He's a right wing extremist. There's a huge difference.
Never considered myself a maverick........ which was no doubt why he could scarcly get through a sentence without calling himself a maverick back in 08.............
and his mavericky sidekick? Well she is a tea bagger.
And does mclame realize that the satan spawn he loosed on the nation is the same force of evil that will cost him his senate seat?
Say- what are the laws in Arizona?
I mean after he looses the primary, can he pull a Joe Lieberman and run as an Independent?
It is time for McCain to retire. He used to be a sensible conservative. Now he just puts his finger to the political winds and says what he thinks his constituents want to hear.
Oh my goodness John McCain!, this is ridiculous. Never a maverick? OY...
And barbie, as usual, not bothering to read the script, gittin' folksy, you betcha, and saying dumb stuff. As Forrest gump said - stupid is as stupid does.
This guy, at 72yo, has sold his soul for a vote. This is the same Country First guy we heard with that huss from Alaska spew nonsense. Sad.
THAT ONE! will say anything to suit him for the moment.
I consider him one of the most despicable human beings on earth because he lies about everything, I mean everything.
He's done a lot of damage to this country and he needs to go to the retirement home before he causes anymore problems.
Wow!
Everyone heard him declare himself a Maverick time and time again over the years and during the 2008 campaign. Unfortunately, McCain has a history of pandering and he must assume he just say anything as if what he said in the past happened.
Its really just very sad.
Is McCain flip-flopping to pander to ultra-conservatives now, or just changing history?
Time to go, John. You have no dignity. You'll say and do just about anything to hold on. Pity. You could have left the Senate as an "elder statesman." Now, you're just a bitter, desperate "has been."
Yes he is right he is no MAVERICK. Send the old man back to the Hanoi Hilton for good. God what an idiot Jim Hall Kansas City Missouri.
I once really admired McCain. He had courage, political courage. He would cross the aisle and try to get things done for the good of the people. He wasn't afraid to be different. But when he ran for the presidency and chose to put Palin a heartbeat away from it, I lost all respect for him. He put himself first, contrary to his campaign theme of "Country First." Now we have to put up with Palin every day it seems. Thanks. So, though I would hate to see someone even more conservative than McCain win, I would shed no tears if he lost. Frankly, if all the current office holders lost it would be just fine with me.
WHAT!?!?!?!? He and that witch ran the campaign about being all mavericky and now he isn't. Can this man who brought us the she devil flip flop more!!!???
hayworth is even more scary than mccain. AZ needs a moderate democrat they can send to the Senate.
He’s right about one thing, he’s no maverick. He is in fact a cull and not fit for office of any kind. I don’t know about that Hayworth, but . . . and I do not like Palin either. I am not a dem either. In essence this country is without leadership.
why would arizonans vote for mccain? he singlehandedly handed the election to obama when he picked palin as a running mate. if recall is correct, he even called himself a maverick during the campaign, and after the loss to obama. obama won by a landslide, if recall is correct, by winning the votes of many democrats, independents, and republicans. it will be a shock if mccain wins re-election.