“She hasn’t done a thing for anyone. No one knows why,” a source said.
By Wayne Schutsky || Arizona Capitol Times
As Election Day approaches, Democratic Sen. Kyrsten Sinema has been noticeably absent from the campaign trail in Arizona, and candidates throughout the state are remaining largely mum on why the state’s senior senator isn’t stumping for her party’s nominees in extremely close statewide races.
Meanwhile, recent polls show that just a few percentage points separate the candidates in most of Arizona’s statewide races. A poll released by HighGround Inc. yesterday showed that just 1.4% separated the Republican and Democratic candidates in Arizona’s gubernatorial and U.S. Senate races – well within the poll’s +/- 4.4% margin of error.
Sinema has remained out of sight as former President Barack Obama and Interior Secretary Deb Haaland have traveled to Arizona to rally voters in recent days. And just yesterday, the Arizona Education Association announced that First Lady Jill Biden will come to the state this weekend for a get out the vote effort.
If the candidates know why Sinema is staying away, they’re not saying.
And, during a press gaggle last week, Arizona Secretary of State Katie Hobbs, who is the Democratic nominee for governor, and Democratic Attorney General candidate Kris Mayes deflected the question.
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“Senator Sinema said recently that she did vote for me, and we’re talking to folks across the state who know what’s on the line this election and making sure that they that they get out and vote…We’re welcoming any support, and I’m glad to have Senator Sinema’s,” Hobbs said.
Mayes instead chose to focus on the Democrats like U.S. Sen. Mark Kelly – and some Republicans – that showed up to support them at a recent stop in Prescott.
“I was there, other Democratic candidates were there – massive turnout on the courthouse square where Barry Goldwater announced his presidential bid,” Mayes said. “So we see excitement out there with a lot of people campaigning with us.”
However, a source close to a Democratic campaign in Arizona, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, was blunter in their assessment of Sinema.
“She hasn’t done a thing for anyone. No one knows why,” the source said.
