With less than a week before election day, Democratic Arizona gubernatorial candidate Katie Hobbs has not debated her Republican opponent Kari Lake.
And she does not intend to either.
But Hobbs was confronted about that decision during an appearance on CNN on Wednesday morning.
Co-host Don Lemon asked, “If you believe your opponent has issues in spreading conspiracy theories about a stolen election and so on and is not being truthful with the people of Arizona, why then not get on the debate stage and debate her?”
Hobbs responded by stating she did not want to give Lake a “bigger stage” to spread “election denialism.”
“But additionally, she has shown that she’s not interested in having any kind of substantive conversation. She’s only interested in creating a spectacle,” she added.
However, Lemon interjected as he said, “If you were in the same space with her, wouldn’t it be easier to knock it down in front of everyone, in front of the most people, because you’re not stopping her from spreading whatever you believe that she is spreading by not debating her.”
Watch the exchange below:
CNN asks @katiehobbs why she won't debate @KariLake
— Washington Free Beacon (@FreeBeacon) November 2, 2022
Hobbs: "Our campaign strategy is our campaign strategy..[debating] is not going to decide this election."
Anchor: "It’s not just her..you did not debate your..primary opponent."
Hobbs: "I was miles ahead of him in the race." pic.twitter.com/5KMIlek0cT
He noted Lake has various avenues to share her message with people without pushback.
Lemon argued it would be an “easy fix” to confront Lake on her claims if Hobbs debated her.
However, the Democrat said, “We’re six days out from the election, and our campaign strategy is our campaign strategy, so we’re moving forward.”
She also insisted her decision not to debate Lake would not matter in the election.
Co-host Poppy Harlow then chimed in as she noted Hobbs did not debate her Democratic primary opponent either.
“I was miles ahead of him in the race and won handily. It’s a totally different situation,” Hobbs responded.
When asked why she believed it was not “important” for people to see any debate, the gubernatorial candidate said, “In the primary, I was focused on the general election. I was miles ahead of my opponent. I won handily. It wasn’t an issue.”
“We’re six days from the election, and this is the decision we made,” she added.
According to RealClearPolitcs’ average of polls, Lake is leading Hobbs by 2.8 points
