Many are questioning why Democrat Katie Hobbs, the secretary of state for Arizona who is running for governor, refuses to debate her Republican gubernatorial opponent, Kari Lake. Lake has reportedly attempted to schedule a debate with Hobbs “for weeks.”
Hobbs also refused to debate Democratic challengers in the primary. Lake has labeled Hobbs a “coward,” citing how open debate is an integral part of America’s election process.
On Monday evening, Lake took matters into her own hands and attempted to change the speaking format at a town hall event for gubernatorial candidates.
Hobbs did not appreciate her opponent’s attempts to engage her in a debate and accused Lake of bringing “drama.” Lake was escorted out of the event.
NBC News reported on what happened:
“Under the agreed-upon rules for the pre-recorded event, which was taped Monday and airs at 7 p.m. Saturday Arizona time, the candidates were not supposed to be onstage at the same time and Hobbs was supposed to go first,” the outlet noted. “But a problem arose before Hobbs even took the stage: Lake was sitting in the front row, in the direct line of sight of where her opponent would sit.”
The awkward moment was witnessed by the more than 200 people who filled the room.
Event organizers informed Lake that she must leave the auditorium and wait in a holding room while Hobbs shared her remarks.
Lake did not leave her seat.
Organizers informed Lake that she must comply with the “rules.”
According to the Conservative Brief, Lake responded by saying she was not aware of the strict separation rule and demanded that Hobbs come out and debate her directly.
Hobbs refused.
Lake eventually left, leaving her press aid, Mexican telenovela star Eduardo Verástegui to observe the event.
Hobbs shared her speech, but Lake stole the headlines.
Joe Garcia, the Executive Director of Chicanos Por La Causa Action Fund, a group that co-sponsored the event in conjunction with the state and national Hispanic Chambers of Commerce, reported: “Kari Lake brought along a Mexican telenovela star, and she brought the drama. It was like a telenovela.”
Garcia continued: “She rattled her opponent. She was big, brash, and very larger than life, Trump-esque. Anyone who thinks she was there to follow all the rules doesn’t know Kari Lake,” Garcia added that Hobbs did not give a good account of herself.
NBC News noted further:
The scene was emblematic of the contrasting styles of Lake and Hobbs: Lake is a former local TV anchor, while Hobbs is the elected secretary of state in Arizona, one of the nation’s most competitive swing states. One observer of the town hall described the race as a clash between “an NPR Democrat and a Trump Republican.
According to a Trafalgar Group survey, Lake leads Hobbs by nearly five points. Analysis by the Conservative Brief confirmed that “Lake appears to have the edge.”
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