TL/DR –
The Arizona Republican Party commissioned a new billboard promoting unity, featuring Donald Trump, JD Vance, and four other key Trump supporters. The party’s nominee for the U.S. Senate, Kari Lake, was not included, leading some to speculate that the party has written off the Senate race. A recent New York Times/Siena College poll shows Lake trailing competitor Ruben Gallego by six points in the Senate race, and 9% of Republicans surveyed said they plan to vote for Gallego.
Arizona Republican Party Unveils New Billboard Focused on Unity
The Arizona Republican Party has unveiled a new billboard. Unlike the previous call to “EAT LESS KITTENS – Vote Republican”, the party’s leadership has shifted to a unity message. The new billboards, spread around the Valley last week, display “Team Unity” and feature Donald Trump, JD Vance, and four other key Trump supporters.
State Republican Party Chairwoman Gina Swoboda announced the campaign saying, “This billboard embodies the spirit of unity that our nation desperately needs. The Trump-Vance ticket represents a powerful coalition of voices that will fight for America.” However, the party’s U.S. Senate nominee is noticeably absent from the campaign.
Where’s Kari Lake on those billboards?
In the Team Unity campaign, Kari Lake is noticeably absent. Instead, Trump, Vance, Elon Musk, Vivek Ramaswamy, Tulsi Gabbard, and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. are featured. This suggests the Arizona Republican Party may have written off the U.S. Senate race.
According to a New York Times/Siena College poll released Monday, Trump is leading Kamala Harris by five points in this battleground state. The same poll shows Ruben Gallego leading Lake by six points.
Gallego is leading strongly with many voters
Gallego leads with voters under 44, college graduates, and voters of color, while Lake leads with older and white voters. Lake is also popular among those who didn’t graduate from college. Gallego is leading in cities and suburbs while Lake is popular in rural Arizona.
Furthermore, 9% of Republicans surveyed plan to vote for Gallego, while only 1% of Democrats would vote for Lake. Independents lean towards Gallego, 50% to 40%.
No wonder the Republican Party snubbed Lake
The lack of support for Lake is not surprising, as she has consistently trailed Gallego in polls throughout the year. With early ballots being mailed out in just 16 days, it’s hard to see how she can turn the tide. Moderate voters, who have traditionally handed key statewide offices to Democrats, don’t favor her.
With the recent wins by U.S. Sen. Mark Kelly and Gov. Katie Hobbs, could Ruben Gallego be the next Democrat to take a Senate seat in Arizona? Only time will tell if the Republican Party can make a comeback in the state.
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