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Former Arizona gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake has managed to take a sizeable lead over her opponents in a race for Independent Sen. Kyrsten Sinema’s seat next year, according to a new survey.
According to a VCreek/AMG poll, which was released by Americas PAC, Lake had a commanding lead with 41 percent over far-left Rep. Reuben Gallego, who had 36 percent support from respondents. Sinema, meanwhile, finished a distant third with 16 percent support.
Lake discussed the poll’s results during an appearance on Fox Business with host Larry Kudlow, explaining that chaos along the U.S.-Mexico border caused by President Joe Biden’s lax enforcement policies is a major reason why she is doing so well — she opposes his policies.
“Well, it’s the border and the economy and basically getting back to policies that make sense and help Arizona families so they feel secure,” Lake said about the biggest issues facing Arizona.
“People are really concerned about the future. They look back where they were four years ago; our border was secure, we had a great energy policy, our economy was growing. And now it’s just the opposite,” she added.
POLL: U.S. Senate (Arizona) @KariLake – 41% @RubenGallego – 35%@SenatorSinema – 16% pic.twitter.com/vJwjezsHMy
— Kari Lake (@KariLake) December 20, 2023
WATCH:
Former President Donald Trump also outpolled President Joe Biden in the survey, 46-41 percent. When Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is added to the mix, Trump drops to 40 percent and Biden to 35 percent with RFK Jr. taking 16 percent of the vote.
“At this point, Republican Candidates have an edge against Democrats in Arizona,” wrote VCreek/AMG owner JD Johannes in the poll’s summary. “Republican candidates in Arizona likely have a solid base of about 37%–40%. The Biden/Democrat base waivers from a high of 41% to a low 30%.”
Lake has “a commanding 26-point lead in the race for the Arizona Republican Party (AZGOP) nomination for U.S. Senate,” the Arizona Sun-Times reported last month, citing a Noble Predictive Insights (NPI) poll.
The former Phoenix-area broadcaster had 40 percent support, followed by Pinal County Sheriff Mark Lamb with 14 percent, with a margin of error plus or minus 5.25 percent.
“Former U.S. Senate candidate Blake Masters also received 10 percent of support, but he has since declared he will instead mount a campaign for the House seat being vacated by Rep. Debbie Lesko (R-AZ-08) at the end of her term. NPI founder Mike Noble noted Masters’ decision, and stated that ‘Lake is likely to benefit the most’ from his share of the vote,” the Sun-Times noted further.
“An additional 4 percent of respondents said they would vote for businessman Brian Wright, while 33 percent said they were undecided,” the outlet added.
Meanwhile, Lake has already picked some big endorsements.
According to Fox News, Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), has come out in support of Lake, who will attempt to turn at least one of Arizona’s two Senate seats red again after both went blue over the past two election cycles. Sinema won her seat in 2018, defeating Martha McSally, and last year, incumbent Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly handily fended off Trump-backed Masters 51.4 percent to 46.5 percent.
“Joe Biden’s policies have crushed Arizona. Arizonans are dealing with record inflation – up 20 percent under the Biden administration. Arizona is also on the front lines of the worst illegal immigration crisis in American history. Nearly 8 million illegal immigrants under Biden, equal to the population of Arizona,” Barrasso said in a statement, per Fox News. “The U.S. Senate needs a Senator from Arizona that understands these issues, and will fight hard to solve them.”
And earlier this month, Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), who is seen as a supporter of Trump’s America-centric policy agenda, announced he would support Lake ahead of what is expected to be a very closely watched race in a new swing state.
“Kari Lake is the fighter Arizona needs to secure the border, unleash American Energy Independence, and lower the cost of living. Joe Biden’s policies have been a disaster for Arizona and Kari Lake will stand up to the Biden agenda and put Arizonans first. Let’s send Kari to the Senate and take back the majority,” Cotton told Fox News Digital in a statement.
“I am grateful for the endorsement of Sen. Cotton, someone who served our country honorably in the military and has been a conservative warrior in the Senate. I look forward to working with Sen. Cotton to secure our border and get America back on track from Joe Biden and Chuck Schumer’s far-left agenda,” Lake told the outlet.
