Sen. John McCain's Primary Challenger Says He's Too Old to Be Re-Elected

— -- John McCain's primary challenger has once again declared that the Arizona senator -- who turns 80 on Monday -- is too old to be re-elected.

"John McCain has fallen down on the job," Dr. Kelli Ward, a former state senator, told MSNBC's Chuck Todd during an interview Thursday. "He's gotten weak. He's gotten old."

"I want to give him the best birthday present ever -- the gift of retirement," said 47-year-old Ward.

When asked by Todd to explain her comments, Ward reminded him of her medical background. "I'm a physician," she said. "I see the physiological changes that happen in normal patients again and again and again over the last 20, 25 years, so I do know what happens to the body and the mind at the end of life."

Todd shot back, "You feel comfortable diagnosing him on air like this?"

Ward responded, "Diagnosing him as an 80-year-old man, yes, I do."

Ward was unapologetic about her comments, even issuing a statement following the interview reiterating her sentiments. “With his fundraising in free fall and his foreign policy in shambles, John McCain is too weak to win in November against Obamacare Queen Ann Kirkpatrick," read the statement. "After 4 decades in DC, it's time to honor John McCain’s 80th birthday with retirement. It’s time for real life experience outside politics. It’s time to elect a conservative champion for Arizona’s Future."

Meghan McCain took issue with Ward's assessment of her dad, pointing out his physical stamina. "He hikes the grand canyon every year w/ my brothers. He's in better shape than I am. This attack is really desperate," she wrote.

She continued, "Seriously, stick to the issues and maybe hang out with my incredible 103 year old grandmother to see how McCain's age."

On Wednesday, according to Politico, McCain said Ward's attempt to discredit him based on his age was a "dive to the bottom."