RINO Hunting season has opened early this season.

Chris Simcox, the founder of the Minuteman Civil Defense Corps has filed his papers and will challenge Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) in the 2010 Arizona Senate GOP primary.

The contrast between the two men could not be more stark, especially when it comes to the issue of illegal immigration and overall border security. Arizona has taken more of the brunt from the invasion from the southern border than just about any other state. Not just in economic terms, but particularly the Mexican drug cartel gang violence, which has reached epidemic proportions in the state.

From the Arizona Capitol Times: (Hat Tip to letget at Michelle Malkin)

Minuteman founder Simcox to run against McCain

By Jim Small

Sen. John McCain will face a challenge from the right in next year’s Republican primary, as one of the country’s most prominent border hawks will announce his candidacy for Arizona’s Senate seat on April 22.

Chris Simcox, who founded the Minuteman Civil Defense Corps, will file campaign paperwork today to formalize his challenge of McCain, who has angered conservative Republicans for his stances on a variety of issues – most prominantly, illegal immigration and border security.

Simcox will represent a stark contrast in Republican ideology compared to that of McCain, said Eric Johnson, a senior advisor to Simcox and former staffer for Don Goldwater’s gubernatorial campaign in 2006.

“He is a true, conservative Republican. His platform is what it should be,” Johnson said.

Some of McCain’s clashes with conservatives in the Republican Party include his sponsoring 2006 effort in Congress to reform American immigration policies and allow a “pathway to citizenship” for millions of immigrants in the country illegally. He also spearheaded campaign finance reform in 2002 and has supported efforts to limit sales of firearms at gun shows.

Johnson said Simcox’s proven ability to organize a grassroots campaign will give him an advantage over McCain. And Robert Kiley, a California political consultant who will manage the campaign, said Simcox’s national profile will allow him to raise the $10 million to $15 million needed to take on the entrenched senator.

While some hard-core RINOs such as Collins and Graham cruised in their 2008 re-elections, there are highly vulnerable ones out there as well. Arlen Specter could join McCain in being bagged and carried out of the Senate on the strength of rapidly growing disenchantment with the mushy middle of the GOP. Many “moderate” Republicans were cleaned out of the House in 2006 and 2008 and it looks that might be spreading to the Senate.

Give me an “Amen” to that.

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