Opinion: The Clean Elections Commission gave Katie Hobbs 7 days to agree to debate Kari Lake. Commissioners rejected her town hall proposal and for good reason. A town hall is a dodge, not a debate.
By Laurie Roberts || Arizona Republic
The Great Arizona Debate over whether we will have a gubernatorial debate continues, as the Citizens Clean Election Commission on Thursday rejected Katie Hobbs’ proposal to dodge a face-to-face match with Kari Lake.
Hobbs now has seven days to change her mind or look like an absolute weakling – which (hint, Ms. Hobbs) is never a good look for someone who assures us she’s ready to run a state of more than seven million people.
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The commission was thrown into a tizzy on Friday when Hobbs rejected the idea of appearing side-by-side with Lake.
Hobbs has made the political calculation that it’s better to take the hit for being a no-show than to be upstaged by an opponent who has spent her professional career in front of a camera.
Refusing to debate plays into Lake’s hands
I see her point. Where Lake is charismatic and fully in command in front of a camera or a crowd, Hobbs comes across as shaky and uncomfortable. Lake can talk circles around Hobbs, who seems, at times, to have trouble directly answering questions.
I see it. I just don’t accept it. Hobbs made a decision to run for governor – a decision that kept other, perhaps more eloquent Democrats out of the race. With that decision comes an expectation that you will face off against your opponent – that you will lay out and defend your policies and expose your opponents.
Not a debate:Hobbs, Lake explain how they would govern Arizona
That you will stand tall, in a stressful setting, and show us why you deserve our vote.
