McCain Running for Sixth Term Because World in 'More Turmoil Than Ever'

Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) said he’s running for a sixth term in 2016 because the world “is in more turmoil than ever before.”

The 78-year-old told Fox the decision “wasn’t too difficult.”

“There are threats to us that thanks to this failed presidency and this – the incredibly hands-off leading from behind foreign policy the country is in grave danger. And also there is a lot to be done here in Arizona as well. I’m looking forward to continuing serving as chairman of the Armed Services Committee,” McCain said of the post he assumed when Republicans won the Senate majority last fall.

“John Kerry has had a series of failures, whether it be trying to negotiate Bashar Assad’s departure from Syria or the Israeli Palestinian peace process. And it was obvious to all of us who know him that he was desperate for some kind of an agreement and this agreement is not only flawed but it’s dangerous. There is really no verification that’s meaningful. There is no restraint on things like their missile development and their warhead development and their continued behavior, sponsoring terror and on the move throughout the Middle East. And thanks to the failed policy of Barack Obama, we have now the Middle East who is going their own way in the Arab Sunni — Arab countries because they have no trust and no confidence in us and this is just another affirmation of that — this really bad deal.”

The Hill reported a few months ago that Reps. Matt Salmon (R-Ariz.) and Dave Schweikert (R-Ariz.), both considered Tea Party lawmakers, are considering challenging McCain, but the best friends won’t both get in the race.

McCain weighed in on the 2016 presidential race, calling Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Rand Paul (R-Ky.) both “very bright.”

“Senator Cruz is a valuable member of the Armed Services Committee. Rand Paul obviously has a strong base, some of it inherited from his father. I’m very interested in Rand Paul’s past views as well as evolving views on national security. Obviously, it seems to me some of those have changed somewhat as the situation in the Middle East has deteriorated,” McCain said.

“But, look, I have been through it. It’s a tough grind. I wish them both well. And I will be supporting Lindsey Graham, who is the person who really knows how to handle these national security challenges.”