Ducey, Garcia facing off Monday in first Arizona gubernatorial debate
Sep 24, 2018, 4:32 AM | Updated: 5:08 pm
(Associated Press Photos)
PHOENIX — Arizona Republican Gov. Doug Ducey and Democratic challenger David Garcia will meet Monday night in Phoenix for their first of two scheduled debates.
The event begins at 5 p.m. and will be televised by PBS (Ch. 8) on “Arizona Horizon” and streamed online.
Green Party candidate Angel Torres also will participate.
KTAR News 92.3 FM political analyst Stan Barnes said he expects to see Garcia put on a strong performance.
“Because he is losing the campaign,” he said. “And a forum like this is his moment which to tell a different story or to be heard by a different audience.”
Barnes expects to hear a lot about education.
“It’s the issue that David Garcia thinks is his ticket to the big chair,” he said. “It’s the issue which the governor is fully prepared to address.”
Immigration will probably be another major topic of conversation, Barnes said.
Barnes said political observers are wondering why the Garcia campaign has failed to fight back against Ducey’s attack ads.
“Because the Doug Ducey campaign is there for all to see. Many advertisements, many different advertisements, and many of them hitting Garcia on weak or vulnerable political issues,” he said.
“But there hasn’t been any response from Garcia.”
The second debate is scheduled for Tuesday night in Tucson.
Garcia wanted to hold a third debate in Yuma, but Ducey declined.