TAMPA, Fla. — On the first day of the general election campaign for Arizona’s open Senate seat, GOP nominee Rep. Jeff Flake popped up on the floor of the Republic National Convention, greeting well-wishers and discussing the state of his race.

“Just gratified,” he said Wednesday, of his win in Tuesday’s primary. “We were very fortunate to have a lot of good supporters, volunteers and friends.

“We felt good going along, but you never want to have a primary like that,” he added. “It was … I’m glad it’s done.”

When asked about talk coming from Democrats that the primary has financially and strategically weakened him, Flake appeared unconcerned. The Congressman said he hoped Democrats would embrace the same strategy as his GOP primary opponent, Wil Cardon, because “it didn’t work very well for Cardin.”

In fact, he went so far as to say that the competitive primary will help him.

“You’re vetted,” he said. “So, if you haven’t been through that, you’re at the disadvantage.”

Flake will face Democrat nominee and former Surgeon General Richard Carmona. Roll Call rates this race as Leans Republican.