TL/DR –
The article discusses the upcoming debate between U.S. Senate candidate Kari Lake and her Democratic opponent, U.S. Rep. Ruben Gallego, in Arizona. Despite the anticipation for the debate, experts believe it is unlikely to sway many undecided voters due to the polar opposite stances of the candidates. The article also mentions that publicly available polling has consistently shown Gallego leading the race for the seat currently held by retiring U.S. Sen. Kyrsten Sinema.
US Senate Candidate Kari Lake to Face Debate with Democratic Opponent Ruben Gallego
US Senate candidate Kari Lake and her Democratic opponent, U.S. Rep. Ruben Gallego, are preparing for a face-to-face debate, an event Lake has been advocating for throughout her political career. This will be a first for Gallego, who has served a safely left-leaning district for nearly a decade without comparable competition.
The debate is hosted by the nonpartisan Clean Elections Commission. However, given the polar opposites nature of Lake and Gallego, it is expected that few undecided voters will be swayed, and the debate is unlikely to significantly reshape support.
The debate coincides with the start of early voting in Arizona. Publicly available polling consistently shows Gallego leading the race for the seat held by the retiring U.S. Sen. Kyrsten Sinema.
Lake, a conservative news personality, has impressed conservatives with her strong performances in debates. However, her emphasis on election denialism and personal attacks during the 2022 gubernatorial primary debates led to the Democratic nominee, Katie Hobbs, cancelling all further debates with Lake.
In a recent confrontation at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, Lake and Gallego engaged in a heated exchange over issues like border security and the building of the border wall. Since then, they have traded insults on social media.
Despite her combative political style, Lake has refused to participate in debates where she is significantly ahead in the polls. During the GOP primary this year, she only participated in one online forum and won by 16 points.
On the other hand, Gallego has not faced serious political competition since his first congressional race in 2014. His primary win effectively determined the winner in a district that leaned overwhelmingly to the left.
The debate between Lake and Gallego will be a key event in the run-up to the elections, with the outcome likely to shape the narrative for both campaigns.
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