Sen. John McCain’s status as the favorite son in the 2008 presidential election has become less certain, at least among Arizona Republican Party leaders.

The prospect of a McCain presidency figured prominently in the election of Randy Pullen to succeed Matt Salmon as state Republican Party chairman on Jan. 28.

Pullen edged Lisa James 408-404 for the chairmanship in a vote among GOP party insiders.

Both candidates said the election swung on other issues, but Pullen was widely seen as the anti-McCain candidate because he has written newspaper opinion columns opposed to McCain’s stances on immigration reform and campaignfinance reform.

By default, James was seen as the pro-McCain candidate, according to party insiders.

The idea that Pullen could scuttle McCain’s chances is just hype, Pullen said.

“Don’t you think that’s pretty laughable that someone in my position could knock off a front-runner in a presidential nomination?” Pullen said. “I think that’s laughable.”

Besides, Pullen has pledged to muffle his criticism of Mc-Cain until the national Republican Party settles on a 2008 presidential nominee, he said.

Still, other state GOP leaders wonder how the race will shake out in Arizona.

“Randy made a lot of promises to be neutral and to work to the benefit of all Republicans to try to be a team player, so I think people are kind of in a wait-and-see mode right now,” Salmon said.

“He has been seen as much more of an activist on policy matters, so there is a big bridge that needs to be built,” he said.

Danny Diaz, spokesman for Mc-Cain’s presidential exploratory committee, declined to comment about McCain’s reaction to Pullen’s election.

“The senator is going to continue to reach out to folks in the state,” Diaz said.

“They recognize he is someone who is focused on achieving important things for them and for the country. And he hopes to, obviously, have strong relationships with folks of all political persuasions in Arizona.”

The state party chairman has no direct or official role in the presidential race.

Instead, the chairman’s duties include raising money for the biennial get-out-the-vote campaign, conducting statewide polling and research, and assisting candidates in competitive races within Arizona.

However, a state party chairman could try to influence a presidential race though unofficial measures, according to GOP leaders who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they feared damage to their own political ambitions.

In theory, a state party chairman could try to sway public opinion to the benefit of one candidate and at the expense of the others.

For instance, a chairman could conduct a straw poll among party insiders, who tend to fall into the conservative wing of the party.

The results would have no real standing, but could be devastating to a moderate candidate such as McCain.

Party insiders point to a straw poll of 457 precinct committeemen in Maricopa County that was conducted Jan. 13.

Darkhorse presidential candidate Rep. Duncan Hunter of California finished first with 96 votes, followed by former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney with 82 and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich of Georgia with 53.

McCain placed fourth with 50 votes.

“That got national news,” said one Arizona GOP insider. “You can’t buy that kind of damage.”

Furthermore, a state party chairman theoretically could offer personal insights, connections and leads to members of a particular presidential campaign, without similarly offering advice to members of competing presidential campaigns, according to party insiders.

Pullen discredits the idea that Arizona will even play a significant role in determining the Republican presidential nominee.

“I don’t know how it would affect the presidential campaign with respect to the fact that our primary is well after most of the other major primaries — and quite frankly, very likely it will already be decided before we ever have the primary here in Arizona,” he said.

Pullen said he had no role in planning the Maricopa County straw poll and has no plans to conduct a statewide straw poll.

He said he also would offer the same insight and advice to any Republican presidential candidate.

The state party already has plans in place to feature Hunter as the keynote speaker at a “Trunk & Tusk” dinner at Sheraton Four Points hotel, 1022 N. Metro Parkway East, in Phoenix, on Feb. 24.

Efforts are under way to schedule McCain to appear at a dinner late this year or early next year, Pullen said.

The state chairmanship race split along broad philosophical divides, Pullen said.

He pulled support from the conservative wing of the party — those who favor the party’s core beliefs of lower taxes, smaller government and individual rights.

Pullen said James appealed to those in the moderate wing of the party — those who adhere to the core GOP planks and have moderate views on abortion and gay marriage.

James differed with that assessment.

She said she drew her support from most of Arizona’s congressional delegation and those with similar mind-sets, while Pullen appealed to party outsiders.