Arizona Republican Senate nominee Blake Masters has ground to make up with voters heading into a debate between him and Democratic incumbent Sen. Mark Kelly.
The debate, which will air at 9 p.m. EST on Thursday, is the only opportunity for the two to go head to head before early voting begins on Oct. 12. Masters is lagging 4 to 6 points behind in the polls, on average, and is at a major fundraising deficit compared to Kelly’s massive war chest. Libertarian nominee Marc Victor will also participate in the debate.
MIDTERMS 2022: LIVE UPDATES FROM THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL AHEAD OF CRUCIAL ELECTION
Abortion will likely be a major issue at the debate, as it’s been used as a club against Masters, who has sought to downplay his opposition to the procedure. Some independents may swing to Kelly over this issue, but Masters could pull more voters whose top concern is immigration, according to a recent CBS poll. The border is a higher concern for Arizonans than in other parts of the country, where it ranks No. 3 in importance. The top two issues for voters are the economy and inflation.
Former President Donald Trump is holding a rally with Arizona’s top-of-the-ticket GOP candidates this weekend. Masters was Trump’s pick in the primary, and he benefited from the financial backing of venture capitalist Peter Thiel. Trump is still offering his full support, while Thiel, who closed his wallet to Masters after the primary, is hosting fundraisers to give the Republican a much-needed financial boost. Masters’s most recent Federal Election Commission disclosure reveals he only has just over $1.5 million in cash on hand.
“We just have to get Blake over the finish line,” Thiel reportedly told guests at a recent fundraiser.
Kelly is looking to win his first full term in the Senate after winning the 2020 special election to fill the late Sen. John McCain’s (R) seat. The CBS poll found that voters think Kelly is more likable, with 57% saying they like how the Democrat handles himself personally, compared to 37% saying the same of Masters.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
“I think you can stick a fork in Masters,” GOP strategist Chuck Coughlin told the Arizona Republic, referring to his positions on abortion and Social Security. “I don’t think he’s capable of recovering. The biggest debate that’s going on is between Masters and himself. Who really is he?”
