John McCain backs Cotton bid for south Ark. seat | Politics

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) - U.S. Sen. John McCain is backing Tom Cotton's bid for the Republican nomination for a south Arkansas congressional seat.

Cotton's campaign announced Thursday that McCain had endorsed the Army veteran and management consultant. Cotton is running in the GOP primary for the 4th district seat being vacated by Democratic Rep. Mike Ross.

He's running against former Miss Arkansas Beth Anne Rankin and Marine veteran John Cowart.

In a statement released by the campaign, the Arizona senator praised Cotton for serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.

McCain is the second former presidential hopeful to get involved in the race. Former Gov. Mike Huckabee has endorsed Rankin, who worked for him as governor, and has campaigned for her. Three Democrats are running for the nomination for the seat.

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