'Can we talk about water?' Kari Lake tries to dodge debate questions about MAGA record
Kari Lake tried to duck questions on her MAGA record when she faced off in a Senate debate against Democrat Ruben Gallego.
Gallego repeatedly challenged the Arizona Republican on her election denialism and her position on abortion, and Lake tried to change the topic, reported The New Republic.
“She’s still in denial about climate change," Gallego said. "We should not be surprised by this. She’s still in denial about the 2022 election, and now I give you one minute. You have one minute. Will you finally tell the people of Arizona, did you win or lose that election?”
Lake instead tried to return to a previous question about the state's water crisis.
“Can we, can I talk about water really quickly?” Lake said. “Because I thought we were going to do water.”
The former TV news anchor continues to insist she won her 2022 gubernatorial election, just as Donald Trump falsely claims he won the 2020 presidential election, and Gallego threw her relationship with the former president back in her face during the debate.
"[Former] President Trump, my good friend, has called me ‘Border Kari,’” Lake said. “I love the nickname, and I’m going to go there to Washington, D.C., and help him build that border wall and secure the border.”
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“You’ve been to Mar-a-Lago more than you have to the border,” Gallego replied.
Lake called for the state to implement an 1864 abortion ban after Roe v. Wade was overturned, but then tried to distance herself from that position after she faced widespread criticism, and Gallego reminded voters during the debate.
“She was disappointed to find out the 1864 law, again the one that had no exceptions for rape or incest, was not going to get enforced," Gallego said. "She said I hope the sheriffs will do their jobs."
“That’s not true,” Lake said under her breath.
“We have it on tape,” Gallego replied.
Lake's campaign sent several surrogates after the debate to tell reporters she "won" and appeared strong, but Gallego disputed that afterward.
“She needs to be loud, she needs to lie because she’s weak," he said. "That’s it. The weaker you are, the louder you are.”