Arizona gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake put Arizona PBS and Democratic rival Katie Hobbs on blast following the cancellation of an interview intended to substitute for a debate.
Hobbs has refused to debate Lake, who was slated to appear for a solo interview with Arizona PBS on Wednesday. However, revelations surfaced that the outlet agreed to an interview with Hobbs on Oct. 18 and had not notified the Arizona Citizens Clean Election Commission, with whom it was partnering on debates and the interview.
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“As the CEC’s broadcast partner, PBS’ actions are a slap in the face to the commissioners of the CEC and a betrayal of their efforts to put on an actual debate,” Lake’s campaign wrote in a statement.
The commission then canceled the Lake interview in response. Instead of the interview, Lake, a former newscaster herself, held an event in which she panned the network and her Democratic rival.
“We had nothing to do with this getting canceled. This was completely PBS. It’s outrageous that we’re watching the decimation of a two-decade tradition… a coward named Katie Hobbs is behind it,” Lake tweeted.
.@KariLake: “We had nothing to do with this [debate] getting cancelled. This was completely PBS. It’s outrageous that we’re watching the decimation of a two-decade tradition… a coward named Katie Hobbs is behind it.” pic.twitter.com/B6gI7oWbTK
— Kari Lake (@KariLake) October 13, 2022
Hobbs rebuffed attempts to organize a debate with her rival, dubbing her a “conspiracy theorist” and fretting that a debate could elevate her and create a public spectacle. Lake has returned fire, chiding Hobbs for being afraid to face off against her.
Recently, she was booted from a Hobbs town hall event that she crashed in hopes of having a verbal showdown with her Democratic nemesis.
“Why is it that Katie Hobbs won’t debate? What is she trying to keep from you? What is she hiding?” Lake asked during an event Wednesday. “I wanted Katie Hobbs to show up. I was hoping I would show up today and she would be here. … Then I find out late this afternoon that PBS did a go-around.”
Following revelations that Arizona PBS seemingly circumvented the commission by agreeing to an interview with Hobbs without informing it, the commission voiced its disappointment and announced plans to find a new network partner.
“This morning’s announcement came the day a longtime scheduled Gubernatorial event was to be taped and broadcast featuring candidate Kari Lake. This decision is disappointing, especially following the multiple attempts on behalf of all the partners involved,” the commission said.
Arizona PBS responded to the uproar, noting that it offered both candidates a 30-minute interview to inform voters before they head to the polls.
“It is our responsibility as a news agency to provide the public with access to the candidates who are running for office so they can learn more and make informed decisions,” Arizona PBS said.
Hobbs, meanwhile, said she was unsure why Arizona PBS offered her the interview opportunity.
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“I don’t know what went on behind the scenes with them or how they came to this, but they reached out to us, and we accepted their offer,” she said, Arizona Central reported.
Despite having been a veteran newscaster, Lake has an extensive history of ripping the media. She holds a narrow 0.7-point lead over Hobbs in the bellwether Arizona gubernatorial race, according to the RealClearPolitics polling average.
