While Senator John McCain (R-Arizona) tries to redefine himself as something other than a maverick, former congressman and conservative radio host J.D. Hayworth is trying to define their race in the upcoming GOP primary as the tea party favorite versus the same old Washington insider. Unfortunately neither is telling the complete truth.

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In this age of easily accessed video proof, there are too many available instances of Senator McCain not only wearing the maverick tag proudly but actually using it to define himself politically. His 2008 presidential campaign ran an advertisement that referred to the candidate as "the original maverick" and a second spot added running mate Sarah Palin to the team of "original mavericks". He also referred to himself as a maverick during an appearance on Saturday Night Live shortly before the election.

But more than just proof he used or accepted a particular word, is Senator McCain's record in the Senate of going against the majority of Republicans on such issues as campaign finance reform and illegal immigration. While his willingness to reach across the aisle and draft less than conservative legislation was seen by some as an asset in previous election cycles, this time around it is a liability. Instead of maverick meaning someone who will go his own way and do what's right regardless of party politics, it now means RINO (Republican In Name Only) and is an image the senator can no longer afford to embrace. Proving he can sense the change in the air, Mr. McCain recently told Newsweek, "I never considered myself a maverick. I consider myself a person who serves the people of Arizona to the best of his abilities." (source)

Meanwhile, Challenger J.D. Hayworth has been speaking at tea party rallies and neighborhood meetings around Arizona claiming that he's the best candidate to champion the values of smaller government, free markets and fiscal responsibility. But the McCain campaign says Mr. Hayworth supported government expansion while serving 12 years in Congress and that he also supported earmarks, a practice Senator McCain has long fought against. (source)

It's not just the competition who isn't buying all of Mr. Hayworth's ultra conservative act. In a news release from four of Arizona's largest tea party groups they announced they would not endorse either candidate. While tey stated that the tea party should be about ideas instead of candidates, also included in the release was a statement from Tucson Tea Party co-founder Robert Mayer. He said that on the issues most important to the group, "Both McCain and Hayworth's records during their many years in Washington leave much to be desired."

And so the people of Arizona are left with a choice between a suddenly former maverick and a newly minted tea party panderer. Latest polls show Senator McCain with a double digit lead (source) but there's plenty of time before the state's August 24 primary for both candidates to prove that their new ideals are legitimate...or not.