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Katie Hobbs Taking Heat For Dodging Debate With Kari Lake
Arizona Daily Independent ^ | August 21, 2022 | ADI Staff Reporter

Posted on 08/28/2022 9:34:41 AM PDT by SoConPubbie

The Arizona Democratic Party nominee for Governor, Katie Hobbs, is ignoring increasing pressure to face off with Republican Party nominee Kari Lake in a debate.

Both supporters and detractors are questioning Hobbs’ decision to skip out on the Citizens Clean Elections debate, which has traditionally provided Arizona voters with an opportunity to compare the candidates’ performance under fire on the same stage and at the same time.

From supporters like Arizona Republic columnist Laurie Roberts, to opponents like the Republican Governor’s Association, Hobbs’ is facing criticism for her decision to deny Arizonans an election cycle tradition.

“Fresh off her refusal to debate Marco Lopez in the Democratic primary, it appears Hobbs is now trying to wiggle out of going one-on-one with Kari Lake in the general election,” write Roberts referring to Hobbs’ previous refusal to debate. According to Roberts, “some Democratic political consultants are concerned that Hobbs often seems invisible – especially to those independents and moderate Republicans she must win over if she wants to win this election.” Roberts calls Hobbs’s decision a “loser move.”

“Katie Hobbs is a dangerous open border Democrat just hoping to hide her radical views from voters until election day,” said Republican Governor’s Association (RGA) spokesman Will Reinert. “Yet by going into hiding, Hobbs only reinforces the case that many in the Democratic party have been saying for months — that she is a terrible nominee and candidate for governor.”

For her part, Lake is addressing the situation with humor. On Sunday, she tweeted: “Still nothing from my opponent. @PhoenixPolice — you may need to go do a wellness check. Where’s Katie?” Lake’s tweet came 24 hours after she publicly challenged Hobbs to a debate, offering to join her “on a debate stage any time, any place, in any format, with any questions.”

Still nothing from my opponent. @PhoenixPolice — you may need to go do a wellness check. Where’s Katie? https://t.co/UaTGKwMm0J

— Kari Lake (@KariLake) August 21, 2022


Unlike Hobbs, Lake did participate in the Citizens Clean Elections Republican Primary debate.

“It’s so typical of hypocritical career politicians like Katie Hobbs to talk a big game about me on the safety of an MSNBC panel only to avoid debating with me on stage because she’s afraid she might lose. Ducking out of debates may have worked in her primary, but it won’t work against me,” said Lake in a press release. “If Hobbs thinks she can spend the next 11 weeks hiding in her basement from her radical liberal record that’s way out of step with Arizona, she has another thing coming. I’ll join Hobbs on a debate stage any time, any place, in any format, with any questions. Come out, come out wherever you are, Katie. I’m not afraid to answer tough questions, and you owe it to the people of Arizona to do the same.”

The Arizona Daily Independent reached out to the Hobbs’ campaign this weekend, but it did not respond by our deadline.

As reported by the Arizona Daily Independent last week, Hobbs has opted to appear at the pricey 2022 Gubernatorial Candidate Forum held by the Arizona Chamber of Commerce, but will manage to avoid having to share a stage with Lake thanks to the Chamber’s format.

According to KTAR, Lake and Hobbs “will be on the same stage at the same event next month — but not at the same time. Each candidate is scheduled to get about 20 minutes of time on stage with a moderator, Annie Vogt with the Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry, who is putting on the event.”


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: Arizona
KEYWORDS: 2022election; annievogt; arizona; blakemasters; election2022; karilake; katiehobbs
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1 posted on 08/28/2022 9:34:41 AM PDT by SoConPubbie
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To: SoConPubbie
Pretty much all she can say is something like "I won't debate with a Nazi", or some such, thereby insulting more than half the voters in her state.

I'm sure that's what she'd like to say. Maybe she will.

2 posted on 08/28/2022 9:37:13 AM PDT by Steely Tom ([Voter Fraud] == [Civil War])
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To: SoConPubbie

Love me some Kari Lake. Loved her on Tim Pooles podcast.


3 posted on 08/28/2022 9:42:57 AM PDT by hillarys cankles
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To: Steely Tom

They are all trying the Biden method of campaigning. Fetterman is doing the same. Hide what you are from the voters, spend tons of money on ads, you get elected and the voters get screwed.


4 posted on 08/28/2022 9:47:44 AM PDT by McGavin999
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To: hillarys cankles

I LOVE this woman.


5 posted on 08/28/2022 9:48:49 AM PDT by AAABEST ( NY/DC/LA media/political/military industrial complex DELENDA EST)
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To: SoConPubbie
With the election fiascos of 2020 and the 2022 primary, it should be obvious to AZ voters that Hobbs is either 1) incompetent, or 2) corrupt (it is also possible she is both).

It is astounding that given the above, Hobbs even has a chance in the gubernatorial race. Yet that is where we are in America today. For leftists, all that matters is power for the party.
6 posted on 08/28/2022 9:49:24 AM PDT by Dan in Wichita
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To: McGavin999
They are all trying the Biden method of campaigning. Fetterman is doing the same. Hide what you are from the voters, spend tons of money on ads, you get elected and the voters get screwed.

Not much point in campaigning if you've got vote fraud going for you.

7 posted on 08/28/2022 9:53:23 AM PDT by Steely Tom ([Voter Fraud] == [Civil War])
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To: Dan in Wichita
BOTH!
8 posted on 08/28/2022 9:59:02 AM PDT by BigEdLB (Let’s go Brandon!)
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To: SoConPubbie

I’m getting my Katies and my Karis mixed up.
One of the girls should start using her middle name, unless it’s something like “Lou”


9 posted on 08/28/2022 10:02:50 AM PDT by lee martell ( )
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To: SoConPubbie

Katie might have been inspired by Biden: Don’t campaign, mess up big time, and win anyway.


10 posted on 08/28/2022 10:04:29 AM PDT by apocalypto
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To: SoConPubbie

Why should she debate if they use the same voting machines?


11 posted on 08/28/2022 10:04:50 AM PDT by MtnClimber (For photos of Colorado scenery and wildlife, click on my screen name for my FR home page.)
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To: McGavin999

You left out one key component: massive voter fraud. As AZ SOS, privy to fraud central, maybe feels like she has it in the bag — same as Biden.


12 posted on 08/28/2022 10:05:29 AM PDT by SiGeek
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To: SoConPubbie

Fat Kommie Katie is a chickensh*t.


13 posted on 08/28/2022 10:09:45 AM PDT by FlingWingFlyer (I always thought a Merry Garland was a Christmas tree decoration.)
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To: SoConPubbie

Hiding in a bunker worked for Biden. And we all know how corrupt the 2020 Arizona vote tallying was. Between the two I can see Hobbs winning due to an uninformed and disinterested Arizona electorate sitting it out or voting for Hobbs. Never underestimate Democrats when it comes to stealing an election.


14 posted on 08/28/2022 10:13:14 AM PDT by AlaskaErik (In time of peace, prepare for war.)
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To: AlaskaErik
Hiding in a bunker worked for Biden. And we all know how corrupt the 2020 Arizona vote tallying was. Between the two I can see Hobbs winning due to an uninformed and disinterested Arizona electorate sitting it out or voting for Hobbs. Never underestimate Democrats when it comes to stealing an election.

Except she had the perfect opportunity in the Primary to "kill-off" Kari and couldn't make it happen.

They are still able to cheat, but not at the 2020 levels as the electorate, at least half of it, is now wide-awake and more every day are joining that half of the electorate.
15 posted on 08/28/2022 10:28:01 AM PDT by SoConPubbie (Mitt and Obama: They're the same poison, just a different potency)
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To: SiGeek

Ah but cheating IS the Biden method.


16 posted on 08/28/2022 10:28:36 AM PDT by McGavin999
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To: hillarys cankles

She’s akin to DeSantis: taking it to these rat bastards with decisiveness and a sense of humor, but with a decidedly sharp edge. She’s tremendous


17 posted on 08/28/2022 10:29:38 AM PDT by j.havenfarm (21 years on Free Republic, 12/10/21! More than 5000 replies and still not shutting up!)
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To: SoConPubbie

just have an empty chair debate


18 posted on 08/28/2022 10:47:59 AM PDT by Chode (there is no fall back position, there's no rally point, there is no LZ... we're on our own. #FJB)
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To: McGavin999
They are all trying the Biden method of campaigning. Fetterman is doing the same. Hide what you are from the voters, spend tons of money on ads, you get elected and the voters get screwed.
Has Fox called it for Hobbs yet?
19 posted on 08/28/2022 10:49:14 AM PDT by lewislynn (Trump accomplished more in one term than any other President in your lifetime.)
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To: lewislynn

No, they’ll hold off until two minutes after the polls close.


20 posted on 08/28/2022 10:50:04 AM PDT by McGavin999
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