Think Tank explores post primary political landscape in Arizona

This week on Think Tank, we discuss the political scene in the aftermath of Arizona’s primary elections and more with HighGround’s Paul Bentz.

BY MIKE O'NEIL/THE THINK TANK

Sep 2, 2022, 10:30 AM

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Kari Lake, a well-known former television news anchor now running for governor of Arizona, speaks to supporters at a country western bar in Tucson, Ariz., Tuesday, July 12, 2022. Establishment Republicans are working to lift up little-known housing developer Karrin Taylor Robson against Lake, who is backed by former President Donald Trump. (AP Photo/Jonathan J. Cooper)

(AP Photo/Jonathan J. Cooper)

What a difference a month makes! A month ago, Joe Biden was seen as a president who could get nothing through Congress.

Inflation was spiraling upwards and gas prices, in particular were seemingly out of control. Democrats were seen as inevitably losing both the House and the Senate. And Biden seemed like a lame duck who would either lose the 2024 election or bow out of the race entirely.

While all is not well, the president signed several major pieces of heretofore elusive legislation. We have had a month of zero inflation and gas prices are tumbling. It increasingly looks like Donald Trump may face one or more of several possible criminal charges.

Meanwhile, the Republicans throughout the country have nominated a fair number of very weak candidates, election-denying Trump-endorsed extremists, including in Arizona.

Nate Silver’s political website now rates the Democrats as almost 2-1 favorites to retain the Senate.

With the election almost three months out, of course, none of this is fixed; these trends could reverse as quickly as they materialized.

Our guest this week is Arizona HighGround’s Paul Bentz. We discuss the political scene in the aftermath of these developments and Arizona’s primary elections. And he disagrees with some of my above analysis.

In this state, Trump-endorsed candidates were nominated for the U.S. Senate, governor, attorney general and secretary of state. All are thought vulnerable in November. This is surprising; while Democrat Biden carried the state two years ago, most consider Arizona to still lean slightly Republican.

Our discussion includes these national trends, the major statewide races and Arizona legislative prospects.

The Think Tank airs on KTAR 92.3 FM on Saturday 6-7 p.m. and Sunday 9-10 p.m.

Podcasts are available after broadcast. Older shows are archived at www.mikeoneil.org.