Former Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard said the essence of this year’s midterm elections is a return to the basics of “objective truth.”
Gabbard, who recently announced her departure from the Democratic Party, attended a rally in Chandler, Arizona, in support of Republican gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake Tuesday. The event also featured Blake Masters, GOP candidate for U.S. Senate, and Abe Hamadeh, candidate for Arizona attorney general.
“The basics are under attack,” Gabbard told those in attendance. “When we have people in power who deny the existence of objective truth, that leads to a very dangerous place because that means that whatever they say is true is what they will enforce through their laws.”
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“When we deny the existence of truth, we lose all boundaries in our society,” she continued. “So, this is what we are facing today.”
Gabbard touted Lake as the candidate best prepared to lead the state of Arizona, noting that Democratic gubernatorial candidate Katie Hobbs has declined an opportunity to debate Lake.
“Now is not the time for cowards. Now is not the time for leaders who are driven by fear, too afraid to stand in front of you, the people that they work for, too afraid to stand strong in whatever their own convictions and beliefs are,” Gabbard said, referring to Hobbs. “Why is that? Why is she so insecure that she refuses to stand toe-to-toe with Kari? Because if she does, she will be exposed for the weakness of her positions, the weakness in her convictions.”
While Lake addressed the rally’s attendees, she said she hoped Hobbs would reconsider a debate.
“We owe it to the people of this great state to stand onstage and debate,” Lake said. “If you’re too afraid to show up on a debate stage, then I don’t think you’re going to do a very good job.”
Last week, Hobbs explained why she does not want to debate Lake.
“All three top Republicans are election deniers. How do you debate someone who refuses to accept the truth? Who doesn’t live in facts?” Hobbs told MSNBC’s Andrea Mitchell. “All she’s going to do is shout over me, interrupt me, and spew lies.”
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While the race remains tight, polls indicate Hobbs is slipping in favorability among Arizona voters. On Thursday, a FOX 10/InsiderAdvantage poll showed Lake up 3 points. One month ago, Hobbs led by 1 point in the same poll. On Friday, the RealClearPolitics average of polls showed Lake ahead by 1 point. The latest Arizona Public Opinion Pulse poll conducted by OH Predictive Insights said Lake and Hobbs are in a statistical tie.
