GLENDALE, Arizona – Arizona is at the center of the 2024 election, so introductory speakers at Vice President Harris’ rally in Glendale appealed to moderate Republicans by mentioning one of the Republican Party’s previous presidential candidates.
Democratic Rep. Gregory Stanton of Arizona, who represents the eastern suburbs of Phoenix, called on “John McCain Republicans” to support the Harris-Walz ticket, presenting it as a moderate option.
Mesa Republican Mayor John Giles echoed those comments, saying that as a lifelong member of the GOP, he did not recognize his party.
“It has been taken over by extremists,” Giles said, adding that it has also pushed “people from the (political) centre” out of the party.
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Former President Trump and former US Senator John McCain. (Getty Images)
“You don’t owe this political party a damn thing,” Giles added, saying it would be “misguided loyalty” to support Donald Trump.
“Please join me in the spirit of the great Senator John McCain to put country above party, stop Donald Trump, and protect the rule of law, our Constitution, and the democracy of our great country.”
The relationship between McCain, who died in 2018, and Trump was cool, especially after the latter gave his thumbs down with his decisive vote against the abolition of ObamaCare.
The two frequently exchanged barbs. McCain withdrew any future support from Trump after the release of the Billy Bush tape during the 2016 election campaign, and Trump commented on McCain’s service in Vietnam.
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Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential candidate, and her running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, on stage during a campaign rally in Philadelphia. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
On Friday, Giles, who remains an incumbent Republican, called Harris the “capable, just and fair leader our country deserves.”
He also criticized Trump’s focus on the border crisis, claiming that his party’s candidate was not trying to solve the crisis but rather exploit it for his “own political purposes.”
Of the “John McCain Republicans” who may attend Friday’s rally, Stanton said, “We’re glad you’re here and we appreciate your support.”
Other mayors who spoke included Corey Woods of Tempe and Kate Gallego of Phoenix, the ex-wife of Democratic Senate candidate Ruben Gallego (D-Arizona), whom officials also asked for support against former news anchor Kari Lake.
Fox News Digital has asked the Trump team for comment.
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The late Senator John McCain (R-Arizona, left) stands with the late former U.S. Senator Joseph Lieberman (I-Conn.) during a tour of the 2008 Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minnesota. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
Outside the rally, John, of Avondale, stood in line with Harris-Walz supporters, holding up a hand-drawn sign that resembled a Google Maps GPS graphic showing the “fastest route” from Desert Diamond Arena to the southern border at Nogales.
“Too many Americans are being killed by illegal immigrants coming from across our border because the border is so open,” said John, who added that he did not expect to be allowed to enter with the placard.
“Not only that, sooner or later they will start taking away all our jobs.”
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Apparently addressing the rally attendees surrounding him, John joked, “And I don’t know if all these people have jobs, but sooner or later it’s going to happen.”
“Not only that, your prices will go up because of taxes because someone has to support 20 million illegal immigrants, and it won’t be me. That’s why I’m not going to vote for Miss Harris.”
Sophia Compton of Fox News Digital contributed to this report.
