I remember a similar build up of fears leading up to the Iraq war, many of the same people in the house and senate are banging that old war drum as well. John McCain effectively switched parties to join in on the fun.
He was and still officially is one on paper but evidently he now supports the ACA and war with Russia. If he ran on those ideas its possible that many constituents would of voted differently. If you simply outlined his policies he doesn't differ all that much from Clinton.