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PHOENIX — Minuteman founder Chris Simcox announced his bid for U.S. Senate against John McCain Wednesday, blaming the senator for deaths caused from violence on the Mexican border and promising a national campaign to unseat the four-term incumbent.

“We have the ability to run a national campaign as well as a state campaign,” Simcox said outside the Arizona state Capitol. “There are millions of supporters around the country who have been waiting for some leadership in Washington to take on this border security issue.”

Simcox — who as president of the Minuteman Civil Defense Corps has toured the country — blamed McCain Wednesday for being soft on immigration.

“He is fully responsible for the deaths along our borders, the raging violence in Mexico and the violence that we have in the streets of U.S. cities from border to border coast to coast,” Simcox said.

Simcox said he would not run a “one-issue” campaign.

“We’re working-class, middle-class working Joes,” Simcox said, surrounded by his supporters.

A spokeswoman for McCain said the senator would not comment on Simcox but is confident McCain will “prevail in next year's election.”

Simcox has resigned from the Minuteman group to run for office, he said.