Simcox makes it official: He'll take on McCain 

Minuteman Project co-founder Chris Simcox has formally announced he will challenge John McCain in next year's election for the U.S. Senate, saying McCain has not properly represented conservative values.

Simcox also launched an attack on the state's senior senator and last year's Republican presidential nominee, saying McCain failed to secure America's southern border with Mexico years ago.

"No one is willing to challenge John McCain on this issue. I am," Simcox said during a press conference at the Capitol.

Phoenix Republican Rep. Carl Seel had called the press conference, but he spoke only for a few moments before turning the attention to Simcox.

Seel said something needs to be done to secure the border because "even grenades are being thrown at our law enforcement officers" by the drug cartels.

Simcox has gained national notoriety for his activism on border security issues. In 2005, he and Jim Gilchrest started the Minuteman Project, which organized citizens to monitor the country's southern border in order to stem the flow of illegal immigrants. He later split with that group and formed the Minuteman Civil Defense Corps.

Illegal immigration will be one of the central themes of Simcox's campaign against McCain, who in 2006 spearheaded an effort to reform immigration laws that was panned by critics as "amnesty" for illegal immigrants currently in the country.

Simcox said his campaign has already received donations from across the country.

Sen. Jack Harper, a Republican from Surprise, called Simcox "a very credible public figure" and said competition makes everyone better, noting that McCain faced no competition in 2004 and "had a hard time following any sort of party platform" in the years that followed.

Arizona Republicans react to Simcox's bid against McCain. For full story, click here: http://www.azcapitoltimes.com/freestory.cfm≠ID=11006