OPINION: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.
Arizona gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake, who was endorsed early on by former President Donald Trump, got some good news on Thursday.
According to a new survey from the Trafalgar Group, which correctly predicted that she would capture the GOP nomination, Lake leads Democratic challenger and current Arizona Secretary of State Katie Hobbs by nearly five points.
The survey polled 1,080 likely 2022 General Election voters from September 14-17 and has a 2.9 percent margin of error, meaning that Lake’s lead is enough to overcome it. Still, there 4.4 percent of respondents said they had yet to make up their minds.
Trafalgar also found Democratic incumbent Sen. Mark Kelly with a slight lead over Trump-backed GOP challenger Blake Masters, 46.6 – 45.4 percent, which is well within the margin of error. In that race, 5.3 percent are undecided, and 2.7 percent said they are voting for Libertarian Marc Victor.
The polling firm explained why their surveys are generally very accurate.
“We utilize short questionnaires of nine questions or less based on our perceptions about attenuated attention spans and the need to ‘accommodate modern busy lifestyles.’ Our polls last one to three minutes and are designed to quickly get opinions from those who would not typically participate in political polls,” the firm notes.
In 2019, a jury found that Hobbs was part of a group of Democrats who discriminated against Talonya Adams, a black former state Senate staffer who alleged she was fired because of her race and sex.
“It’s because I was African-American that I was dismissed,” Adams said at the time. “I also think it was in retaliation for requesting a raise.”
NOW Two months ago, @SecretaryHobbs said there was no discrimination against Talonya Adams, former Dem policy adviser on Hobbs' Senate staff. Today, Hobbs apologizes. pic.twitter.com/Cx2dH5xQL9
— Brahm Resnik (@brahmresnik) October 18, 2019
The alleged discrimination occurred when Hobbs was serving as state Senate minority leader.
“When it comes to women and women of color in particular, there is an issue there as it relates to Katie Hobbs… To the extent that she believes discrimination does not exist or that she’s not able to see it, I have grave concerns in the role that she currently sits,” Adams noted further, according to 12News.
In the run-up to the election, Lake has blasted Hobbs for refusing to debate her. Campaign officials for Hobbs claim it is because Lake is a “conspiracy theorist” regarding the 2020 election.
“Unfortunately, debating a conspiracy theorist like Kari Lake – whose entire campaign platform is to cause enormous chaos and make Arizona the subject of national ridicule – would only lead to constant interruptions, pointless distractions, and childish name-calling,” Hobbs’s campaign manager, Nicole DeMont, said in a statement.
.@katiehobbs says no for the second and final time to a debate with @KariLake. How pathetic and weak. She refused to debate her Democratic opponent in the primary as well. Nobody this weak can lead a shift at McDonald’s let alone lead Arizona. pic.twitter.com/IHmAHyHgvw
— Garret Lewis (@GarretLewis) September 11, 2022
Ladies and gentlemen,
The @azdemparty is proud to present its nominee for Governor, @katiehobbs. pic.twitter.com/D2ryKkCJEl
— Kari Lake War Room (@KariLakeWarRoom) September 11, 2022
“Is there any scenario in which Secretary Hobbs will share the stage with Mrs. Lake?”
Hobbs Campaign Manager: “I’m not going to answer a hypothetical question”
“I don’t think it’s a hypothetical question. Is there any scenario where she will share the stage?"
*crickets* 🦗 pic.twitter.com/gKvAPjlz5P
— Kari Lake (@KariLake) September 8, 2022
Arizona’s Clean Elections Commission (CEC) has been pressuring the Hobbs campaign to agree to a debate but she has refused to do so, according to Breitbart News earlier this month, adding:
On Thursday, Hobbs, who in 2017 said “neo-nazi[s]” make up former President Donald Trump’s base of supporters, and her team proposed a town hall-style event in lieu of debate. Each candidate would answer questions separately under the proposal. The CEC rejected the format and nudged the Hobbs campaign to debate Lake, giving the campaigns a week to hammer out details. DeMont’s statement came with four days left to reach a compromise.
In response to Hobbs’ refusal to debate, Lake launched an “Ask Me Anything” tour around the state, giving voters a chance to address any issue they want with the gubernatorial candidate. She released a video on social media announcing the tour.
HUGE NEWS: I have come up with a solution to @katiehobbs debate dodge. If she won't speak to you, I will continue to!
So… Ask Me Anything, Arizona!
Text KARI to 70789
This should be fun ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/gU0lPnTaUN— Kari Lake (@KariLake) September 19, 2022
“My opponent Katie Hobbs’s strategy is to hide from me, hide from the media, and hide from you, the voter. I’m taking a different approach. I’m so excited to announce my ‘Ask Me Anything’ tour,” Lake said.
“Hate me? Don’t trust me? Are you still a little skeptical? That’s fine,” she added. “I signed up for this. I am applying for the job of governor, and you, the voter, are the hiring manager, and this tour is my job interview.”
She took to a stage in Phoenix on Monday and answered questions for nearly 45 minutes, Breitbart News added.