Ward, who is seeking the GOP nomination to replace US Senator Jeff Flake, a Republican, has made controversial comments about McCain in the past. A far-right candidate, she shares President Donald Trump's policies on immigration and border security and has vowed, as the president did, to "drain the swamp." Her press staff didn't respond to calls seeking comment on Sunday. Her comment, which appears to have been written from her personal Facebook page, and the staffer's post have either been deleted or are no longer publicly visible. But Aaron Borders, an Arizona lobbyist and former second vice chair of the Maricopa County GOP, shared images of the exchange on his Facebook page Saturday. Supporters write messages on the campaign bus for Kelli Ward, Republican US Senate candidate from Arizona. Credit:Bloomberg Borders said that he was initially barracking for Ward, whom he knows personally, but that the campaign's undisciplined messaging has appalled him. "You shouldn't be saying any of this. Leave it alone. (McCain's) not even an opponent," Borders told The Washington Post. "That's about as narcissistic as it gets."

Borders, who unsuccessfully sought the GOP nomination for a seat in the Arizona House of Representatives in 2014, said he has never seen a campaign more "undisciplined" and "unfocused" than Ward's. He said the Facebook posts should not have been written at a time when McCain's death was imminent and just days before the Tuesday primary election. In a follow-up comment, Ward said it's the media that is creating a negative narrative about her, not the McCains. Campaign buttons for Kelli Ward, Republican US Senate candidate from Arizona. Credit:Bloomberg "The media loves a narrative. I've said again and again to pray for Senator McCain & his family. These decisions are terrible to have to make. I feel compassion for him and his family as they go through this ... The media, the left, and the Establishment have the agenda. They've been attacking me over fake stories for a year on this issue. I ran against McCain. I don't agree with his voting record and rhetoric. I pray for him as a man who is suffering," Ward wrote, according to the Arizona Republic. That comment also appears to have been deleted.

In a statement posted on her campaign Facebook page after McCain died, Ward expressed her condolences but did not addresses her previous comments. "We are saddened to hear of the passing of John McCain. His decades of service will not be forgotten by the men & women of Arizona. May God grant the McCain family comfort and peace during this difficult time," Ward said. Loading Replay Replay video Play video Play video She also continued to double down on Sunday, again blaming the left and "#FakeNews" and sharing images of vile messages she said she has received in response to the comments about McCain. "The Left is hateful, foul-mouthed, and easily misled ... please take note of the trolling comments by people who buy into #FakeNews & political smears - or maybe they don't - it could be that they just like any excuse to bully and attack," Ward wrote.

This isn't the first time that Ward has found herself the subject of controversy over comments made about McCain. Shortly after he was diagnosed with brain cancer last year, Ward urged him to step down - and expressed interest in the possibility of her taking over his Senate seat. Ward, who had already announced her candidacy to replace Flake, told an Indiana radio station that she hopes McCain's family and advisers will "advise him to step away as quickly as possible, so that the business of the country and the business of Arizona being represented at the federal level can move forward." John McCain in 2017 Credit:AP Arizona law required the governor to appoint someone from the same party to fill McCain's seat if he left office, Ward continued. Asked whether her name was being considered as a possible replacement, Ward said: "Well, you know, I certainly hope so." Ward is running against Representative Martha McSally and former Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio in the GOP primary to replace Flake.

McSally has remained silent about Ward. But not Arpaio. "I'm not trying to pile on Kelli Ward but her comments about Senator McCain on the day of his death have gone viral for all the wrong reasons," Arpaio said in a statement. McSally leads in several polls. Ward surged in the race a few weeks ago, but McSally and her strategists are confident that the congresswoman will stay ahead. Ward first entered politics in 2012 as an Arizona state senator. She ran for a seat on the US Senate in 2016, when McCain defeated her in the Republican primary. She caused a stir that year, too, when she suggested in a Politico interview that McCain, who was then 79, is too old and is likely to die while in office. Washington Post