Does John McCain Need Some Palin Power?

According to Bill Kristol says J.D. Hayworth has come out of nowhere to mount a serious challenge to the GOP's 2008 presidential candidate in his home state:

The new Rasmussen poll for the 2010 Arizona GOP Primary — John McCain 45%, J. D. Hayworth 43% — will generate a fair amount of buzz. But August is a long way away, and I assume that when McCain gets back to Arizona and campaigns, he’ll pull it out.

Still, who could help McCain beat back a populist conservative challenger? Sarah Palin.

Kristol predicts that Juan's former running mate will campaign for him in Arizona and help him save his Senate seat. Allahpundit isn't so sure that McCain would be able to get over himself enough to ask for her help:

I’m sure she’d do it too, not only as a favor to Johnny Mac but because endorsing him over a “true conservative” blunts the media narrative that she’s severed all ties to the center. So why do I think it’s not going to happen? Because I suspect it’d be awfully hard for a mavericky Maverick to swallow his pride and ask for the support of someone who’s loved by his constituents in a way he’ll never be.

Pulling McCain's sorry butt out of hte fire would also allow Sarah palin to square accounts with McCain. She wouldn't owe him a thing after that.

Meanwhile, back east in Florida, Marco Rubio has no such ego problem. He's already made it know that he would welcome a Palin endorsement. Not so for his primary opponent Gov. Charlie Crist, however:

But instead of hitching himself to a rising star in the GOP base, Crist simply noted Palin's apparent lack of interest in the race. Her support "hasn't been offered," he said when asked if he would welcome her backing.

Pressed whether he'd accept the endorsement if Palin offered it, Crist declined to answer, shutting the door of his SUV and driving off.

Sorry, Charlie Tuna. We think you know that you'll never be star-kissed.

- JP