Sen. John McCain, 78, is starting to make moves that he’s interested in a sixth term — but tea party types are saying not so fast, that if he runs he can expect some stiff competition from the limited government crowd.

“I’m leaning toward it,” Mr. McCain said, when asked about his thoughts for a re-election, The Hill reported. That’s a notable switch from a month ago when he told The Wrap that he wasn’t sure about another Senate term — that he didn’t “want to be one of these old guys that should’ve shoved off.”

Nowadays, the Arizona senator says he’s “doing all the things necessary” for another political campaign, including raising money, attending meetings and “talking to a lot of people in the state,” The Hill reported.

But the tea party is mobilizing.

Rep. David Schweikert, backed by the tea party crowd, said he’s mulling a run against Mr. McCain. And a couple of different polls — one from the Citizens United Political Victory Fund and another from Public Policy Polling — taken in recent months show a less-than-satisfactory rating for Mr. McCain among Republican voters.

“Speaking for myself and every other Republican I know and every other tea party person I know, we’re sick to death of him and we will move,” Wes Harris, founder of the Original North Phoenix Tea Party, said in The Hill.

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