John McCain: Rand Paul is the ‘worst possible candidate’ on national security

Sen. John McCain of Arizona says Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky is the “worst possible candidate” in the Republican presidential field on national security.

Mr. McCain was firing back after Mr. Paul earlier this week had called people like Mr. McCain and Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina “essentially the lapdogs” for President Obama’s foreign policy endeavors.

“Put it this way — Senator Paul is the worst possible candidate of the 20 or so that are running on the most important issue which is national security,” Mr. McCain said Wednesday on Fox News’ “Your World with Neil Cavuto.”

Mr. McCain said he would support Mr. Paul if he were the GOP presidential nominee, but when he was asked again if the Kentucky Republican was the worst in the Republican field, he replied: “On national security, absolutely. There is no doubt in my mind.”

Mr. Paul, though he has pushed back against the isolationist label some have thrown at him, is a frequent critic of the more hawkish wing of his party.

Speaking on Fox News’ “On the Record with Greta Van Susteren,” Mr. Graham echoed Mr. McCain’s comments.

“I’ve used every word I know to describe this failed foreign policy by Barack Obama. I think [he’s] failing on multiple fronts,” said Mr. Graham, who is weighing a 2016 presidential bid.

“At the end of the day, I like Senator Paul. But of all the people running for president on our side, I think he is the worst possible person to send in the arena to combat Barack Obama’s foreign policy because he’s been more wrong than Obama,” Mr. Graham said.

“There are more groups with the capability to attack this homeland than anytime I’ve seen since 9/11, and it’s because Barack Obama is leading from behind,” he said. “And the answer to leading from behind is not being one step behind him.”