Mike Murphy, a GOP strategist and former adviser for John McCain
John Sidney McCainJuan Williams: Obama's dire warnings about right-wing media Democrats' squabbling vindicates Biden non-campaign McSally, staff asked to break up maskless photo op inside Capitol MORE’s 2000 presidential bid, said Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden
Joe BidenHarris says she has 'not yet' spoken to Pence Kamala Harris, Stacey Abrams among nominees for Time magazine's 2020 Person of the Year Obama: Republican Party members believe 'white males are victims' MORE’s win in Arizona on Tuesday could be the late Republican senator's “revenge."
Murphy made the remarks on MSNBC hours before The Associated Press called Arizona for the former vice president, positioning Biden to secure the state's 11 electoral votes.
"A lot of Democrats were looking for a quick knockout in the sunbelt, where Biden would take a red state away, particularly Florida, and it didn't happen," Mike Murphy says.
— MSNBC (@MSNBC) November 4, 2020
Arizona, if it flips for Joe Biden, "could be the revenge of John McCain," Murphy adds. pic.twitter.com/3tqjgXicaZ
Biden is the first Democrat to capture the Grand Canyon State since former President Clinton in 1996. President Trump
Donald John TrumpUSAID administrator tests positive for COVID-19 Kamala Harris, Stacey Abrams among nominees for Time magazine's 2020 Person of the Year DOJ appeals ruling preventing it from replacing Trump in E. Jean Carroll defamation lawsuit MORE defeated former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton
Hillary Diane Rodham ClintonFederal workers stuck it out with Trump — now, we're ready to get back to work Biden soars as leader of the free world Intercept DC bureau chief says Biden picks are 'same people' from Obama years MORE in the state by roughly 4 points four years ago.
Trump long had a contentious relationship with McCain, the GOP's 2008 presidential nominee and longtime senator who died in 2018 of brain cancer.
During his presidential campaign in 2015, Trump sparked backlash for saying that the former prisoner of war in Vietnam was not a hero because the president preferred those who weren’t “captured.” Trump also lambasted McCain for voting against a scaled-down GOP bill to repeal ObamaCare in 2017.
Biden was aided in his 2020 bid by the support of the McCain family, including his widow, Cindy McCain, and his daughter, “The View” co-host Meghan McCain.
Cindy McCain endorsed Biden in September, calling him a “good and honest man." She later joined the advisory board for his presidential transition team.
News of Biden's win also came as retired U.S. Navy captain and former astronaut Mark Kelly was projected to defeat Sen. Martha McSally (R) for the seat once occupied by John McCain.
Many social media users echoed Murphy’s statements, saying Arizona’s historic blue flip was an homage to the late senator.
It’s like the ghost of John McCain turning down his thumb one last time.
— Blake News (@blakehounshell) November 4, 2020
Arizona potentially being the state that tips the election away from Trump and to Biden would be John McCain's ultimate revenge
— Adam Blickstein (@AdamBlickstein) November 4, 2020
The ghost of John McCain comes back for revenge.
— Wajahat "Wears a Mask Because of a Pandemic" Ali (@WajahatAli) November 4, 2020
BOOM.
Arizona goes Blue.
HUGE!
Joe Biden is the first Democrat in 24 years to win Arizona. I’d like to imagine it as John McCain getting the last laugh.
— Ana NavarroAna Violeta NavarroCindy McCain when asked about joining Biden Cabinet: 'There is a role for Republicans' Former McCain adviser says Biden flipping Arizona could be late senator's 'revenge' CNN's Ana Navarro to host Biden roundtable on making 'Trump a one-term president' MORE-Cárdenas (@ananavarro) November 4, 2020
Look: Trump may end losing this election because of his irrational grudge against John McCain. Would be quite a dramatic flourish.
— Josh Kraushaar (@HotlineJosh) November 4, 2020
