The ad wars are heating up in Arizona’s GOP Senate primary. In a spot debuted last week, former congressman J.D. Hayworth accused Sen. John McCain of “lying” about his position on amnesty for illegal immigrants. Today McCain is striking back and slamming Hayworth for his ties to Jack Abramoff, the disgraced lobbyist.

“Jack went to prison,” the narrator intones. “Most politicians gave back all the tainted money. But not J.D. He kept the money . . . John McCain: character matters.”