Martha McSally, Kyrsten Sinema agree to conflicting Oct. 15 debates
Sep 22, 2018, 11:09 AM | Updated: Sep 23, 2018, 6:30 pm
(AP Photos)
(AP Photos)
PHOENIX — Senate hopeful Martha McSally has agreed to a debate with Kyrsten Sinema this week, according to the McSally campaign.
However, the Oct. 15 debate on CNN that McSally agreed to conflicts with the Arizona PBS and Arizona Republic debate Sinema agreed to on Sept. 14.
Sinema has also agreed to an Oct. 16 debate in Tucson hosted by Arizona Public Media.
The Sinema campaign responded to McSally’s agreed debate time.
“If Congresswoman McSally were serious about debating, she would show up to the Arizona Republic/PBS debate on October 15 and the Arizona Public Media debate on October 16, which Kyrsten has already accepted,” Sinema communications director James Owens said in a statement.
“Congresswoman McSally appears intent on avoiding debates so she doesn’t have to answer for her harmful record on Social Security, Medicare and jeopardizing coverage for pre-existing conditions.”
McSally’s campaign commented on the decision to accept the CNN debate.
“Martha has never been afraid of a fight, and we’re ready and willing to enter hostile territory to unmask Kyrsten’s moderate charade,” McSally spokeswoman Torunn Sinclair said in a statement. “Kyrsten wants to ensure as few people as possible see her non-answers as she tries to explain away her green party past, radical positions and extreme liberal views.
“Martha McSally thinks Arizonans deserve better. That’s why we’re accepting CNN’s invitation to participate in this debate, which can be viewed statewide, and we hope that local media organizations will partner with CNN to provide the broadest possible reach.”
Both McSally and Sinema won their primary races by a wide margin: Sinema took home more than 82 percent of the Democratic vote, while McSally’s lead was a little tighter, at 51 percent.
But the race is so tight polls can’t even agree who’s leading.
“There are real differences in this election and it’s time for voters to judge for themselves which approach is best. It’s time to debate,” Sinema said on Sept. 14.
“These debates should focus on the issues Arizonans care about most, not petty attacks and political distractions,” she added.
The CNN debate will be moderated by Dana Bash.
