Arizona Sen. John McCain will be joining other top Republicans in avoiding this summer's GOP convention in Cleveland, saying he needs to spend the time trying to win a tight re-election effort.
"I have to campaign for re-election, and I have always done that when I'm up," McCain told
The Hill. "We have a late primary in Arizona."
McCain has held his Senate seat for three decades, but is facing a challenge this year from Democratic Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick. The two are virtually tied in the polls.
Other Republicans also have announced they won't be on hand to see the party pick its nominee for president. Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, who bowed out of the race after losing South Carolina, is among that number.
Many are believed to fear an association with what is expected to be a contentious convention, which could become rowdy if no-one arrives already having enough delegates to sew up the win. But there also is a fear among some that if front-runner Donald Trump is the eventual nominee he could hurt the GOP brand among general election voters and harm their own downticket re-election hopes.
"That's always a concern," McCain told The Hill, though he added he will support his party's nominee whoever it is.
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