(LISTEN/TRANSCRIPT) McCain At Fundraiser: Trump Means This "May Be The Race Of My Life", Because Hispanics Are More "Aroused and Angry" Than Ever

While publicly claiming that having Donald Trump above him on November's ballot will not damage his chances, Arizona Senator John McCain is privately telling Arizona donors that Trump's presence means "this may be the race of my life."  Someone at the April fundraiser gave a recorded copy of his comments to Politico, which published the article this morning.

Somewhat ironically, the Senator who campaigned in 2010 on completing the danged border fence is not comfortable with the "disconnect" that has helped propel Trump to the Republican nomination. "The first wedge that Donald Trump had that gave him notoriety was to build a wall, rapists, murderers, etc."

McCain tells supporters that Trump has "aroused" the Hispanic community in Arizona and the rest of the nation "in a way that I have never seen in 30 years. And so, it will be a tough campaign."

McCain is favored to survive the primary challengers in August, but a general election matchup with Democratic Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick is rated as one of the closest in the country by some prognosticators. (Although we all know how prognosticating the 2016 campaign thus far has made weather forecasters look great by comparison.)

McCain has stated repeatedly that he would support the GOP's Presidential nominee, although he has also already indicated that he will not attend the GOP National Convention that will apparently nominated Trump.

TRANSCRIPT:

"I do not take my primary opponent lightly, I'm working hard to make sure we win there. But, have no doubt that, if it is Donald Trump at the top of the ticket, here in Arizona, with over 30% of the vote being the Hispanic vote, I have no doubt that this may be the race of my life.

People are angry, they're upset. They feel that there's a disconnect.  And, all of that frankly  there's an element of nativism, as well. The first wedge that Donald Trump had that gave him notoriety was to build a wall, rapists murderers, etc. So, and if you have friends of yours or you listen to the Hispanic media in this state or in the country,  you will see that it is all anti-Trump. The Hispanic community is aroused and angry in a way that I have never seen in 30 years. And so, it will be a tough campaign."

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