OPINION: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.
Katie Hobbs, the Democrat campaigning against Republican Kari Lake to be Arizona’s next governor, claims that one of her campaign headquarters was broken into, but Lake is not a believer.
Hobbs is underwater in polls to Lake and the alleged break-in puts a new light on her campaign, CNN reported. The Hobbs campaign also did not blink at blaming Lake and her campaign for the rhetoric that, they believe, led to the alleged break-in.
“We continue to cooperate with law enforcement as they investigate, and we are thankful to the men and women of the Phoenix Police Department for their work to keep us safe,” campaign manager Nicole DeMont said.
“Let’s be clear: for nearly two years Kari Lake and her allies have been spreading dangerous misinformation and inciting threats against anyone they see fit,” she said. “The threats against Arizonans attempting to exercise their constitutional rights and their attacks on elected officials are the direct result of a concerted campaign of lies and intimidation.”
The Republican candidate, who is backed by former President Donald Trump, scoffed at the accusations and blamed the media for believing the story.
“And are you guys buying that? Are you really buying that? Because this sounds like a Jussie Smollett part two,” she said to a CNN reporter.
“You’re letting a woman who has been running a terrible campaign direct you to a story like this? You know she is running a bad campaign,” she said.
“I can’t believe she would blame my amazing people, blame me for something like that,” the candidate said. “I don’t even know where her campaign office is. I’m assuming it’s in a basement somewhere because that’s where she’s been campaigning. You guys are despicable for falling into that trap.”
“I’m saddened that Hobbs and her camp would try to pin this on us. It’s defamatory and it’s wrong. Her own party is attacking her. She is trying to deflect her abysmal campaign,” she said.
When asked again she had a similar response.
“She’s trying to deflect from her own abysmal campaign and the fact that you know, nobody even knows where her campaign office is,” she said. “The person who broke in probably didn’t even realize it was a campaign office. It’s really sad. And the fact that you guys are running with this story, shame on you.”
Law enforcement said that they have not identified a suspect.
“This is still an active investigation with detectives checking all security cameras in attempts to identify and locate the subject involved,” they said.
Lake, has become a rising star in politics but there is one job she is not interested in.
She does not want to be considered for the role of Vice President on a ticket with former President Donald Trump. This weekend she spoke to Jon Karl, on the ABC show “This Week” when she was asked if she would commit to serving four years as Arizona governor.
“My question is, if you’re elected, will you commit to serving all four years as governor?” the host said.
“I’m going to serve eight years as governor of Arizona,” she said.
KARL: But I’m asking, is that a commitment that you will finish your team?
LAKE: Yeah, I’m going to serve eight years. Listen —
KARL: Even if Donald Trump comes to you and says, I want you to be my running mate, you will say no because I made a commitment for me to serve —
LAKE: I just have to laugh at this question. First of all —
(CROSSTALK)
KARL: Well, I mean, I’m not asking because I think you should be his running mate, it’s just that this was something written in “The National Review”. And one of our top supporters, I won’t say who, told me just a couple of days ago, she’s the running mate if Trump runs.
LAKE: OK.
KARL: But my question was just a simple one, you’re committed?
LAKE: Okay. I just — I’m hearing this a lot on the campaign trail and what I think is happening, Jonathan, is the media is trying to scare the public I’m going to leave. I am devoted and dedicated to saving Arizona –
During an interview with @JonKarl, Arizona Republican gubernatorial nominee Kari Lake would not explicitly commit to accepting the outcome of her upcoming election if she loses to her Democratic opponent. https://t.co/ikKD1M95JB pic.twitter.com/6q2EmXWCRE
— This Week (@ThisWeekABC) October 24, 2022
KARL: All four years.
LAKE: — to turning it around. And I like to say I’m the fake news’ worst nightmare. I’m going to be their worst nightmare in Arizona for eight years. I’m going to have two terms as governor.
KARL: If she were to step down to be Donald Trump’s running mate, under Arizona law, it’s the secretary of state would become governor. And if Republicans prevail here, that would be Mark Finchem, the guy who was at the Capitol on January 6th.
