Republicans abandon Trump ally Kari Lake in key Arizona senate race
Republicans seem to have abandoned Donald Trump’s ally Kari Lake in the highly anticipated Arizona Senate race.
A new poll shows that Ms Lake – a major Trump supporter in the state – has not been able to convince 17 percent of voters to vote for the former president this November.
They are more likely to vote for the Democrat candidate.
The rise of moderates and skeptics splitting the Republican ticket in Arizona is a threat to Ms Lake’s election campaign. She is running for Kyrsten Sinesma, an independent senator who has been in office since 2007.
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In the most recent poll conducted by Fox News, Ruben Galego, the Democratic candidate, is more that ten points ahead of Ms Lake.
Ticket splitting used to be common among moderate Republican and Democrat supporters, but it is now becoming less common due to the increasing polarisation of both parties.
The Arizona race is likely to be decided largely by moderate voters who are upset by Ms Lake’s decision to deny that she lost the 2020 Governor race to Katie Hobbs.
According to the Fox poll, 56 percent of voters plan to vote for Mr. Gallego compared with 42 percent who will vote Ms. Lake.
Gallego has 16 percent of Republicans on his side and 17 percent of Trump voters.
Winfield Morris, a 62 year old Republican farmer and rancher, who will support Trump, told AP he wouldn’t vote for Ms Lake.
He said, “I don’t like Kari and I won’t vote for her.” “I don’t think she’s got what it takes.”
Arizona’s status in the presidential campaign as a battleground state has drawn significant media coverage.
FiveThirtyEight’s average polling shows Trump ahead of Kamala by just one point. This is down from 2.3 on August 1. Joe Biden only won Arizona in 2020 by 0.3 percent of the vote.
Ms Lake is a former TV news anchor who has become well known in the Republican Party. She addressed their national convention in July, and appeared next to Trump in Tucson, on September 15, at a rally.
Trump called her “Border Kari Lake” at that event. It was a badge for honour in MAGA circles.
He said, “She is a wonderful person.” “I have known her for a long time. I was among the first people to endorse her, and I can tell you that she is tough.
Ms Lake, one of the highest-profile people to publicly dispute the results after Trump’s loss in the 2020 election, was among the most prominent figures. She also sued unsuccessfully to challenge the results of her own Senate race.
The results of this year’s Arizona election could have significant implications for the Senate, in which the Democrats have a razor-thin two-seat majority.
If Ms Lake were elected, her seat would overturn the majority and give Republicans control of both Houses of Congress if they continue to hold the House this year.
