Katie Hobbs stumbles when pressed on refusing to debate Kari Lake: 'The debate about debates is over'

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Katie Hobbs struggles on questions about avoiding debates

Arizona gubernatorial candidate Katie Hobbs struggled to answer questions about why she refuses to debate her Republican opponent Kari Lake ahead of the election.

Arizona Secretary of State Katie Hobbs, D., appeared uncomfortable when facing questions about not debating her gubernatorial opponent, Republican Kari Lake, during an interview on ABC Friday. 

Hobbs spoke with hosts T.J. Holmes and Amy Robach on the upcoming governor's race. Robach asked Hobbs about her refusal to debate Lake at any point during the campaign.

"Why not challenge her, though, in a public forum? I’m just curious," Robach asked.

After stammering, Hobbs answered, "As far as I’m concerned, the debate about debates is over. I’m running my campaign the way I’m running my campaign. I’m going to continue to make the case directly to voters." 

Arizona Secretary of State Katie Hobbs has faced criticism for refusing to debate with her gubernatorial opponent Kari Lake. ((Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images))

KARI LAKE TURNS THE CAMERA ON THE MEDIA WHILE CAMPAIGNING FOR ARIZONA GOVERNOR 

Holmes, however, continued to press the issue.

"The case you make to them and, not to belabor that point, is there are tough times for a lot of folks. We talk about the economy, inflation, and I know there’s a rising cost of living here. People are putting somebody in that office that they want to stand up and fight for them. At worst, it could come off as you’re scared to step on that stage. At best, you’re not willing to confront. We’re in a new era where sometimes, some politicians have been seen as bullies, and we’ve been taught since we were little kids that you got to stand up to bullies," Holmes said.

He added, "You understand how that might come across? We want to send you to fight for us, but you won’t even stand on stage with her."

"I have stood up to this bully for the past two years, and Arizonans have seen that, and I’m going to continue to do that," Hobbs responded.

Katie Hobbs defended her refusal to debate Kari Lake while appearing on "GMA3: What You Need To Know" Friday (ABC)

KARI LAKE TORCHES DEMOCRAT OPPONENT FOR REFUSING TO DEBATE: ‘BASEMENT HOBBS’ TAKING PAGE FROM BIDEN PLAYBOOK 

Lake has criticized Hobbs’ refusal to face her, suggesting that it comes from Hobbs’ inability to properly debate.

"She was asked a softball question a couple of weeks ago: name one good thing about the Latino community, and she spent the entire minute and a half saying ‘um’ and 'uh' and couldn't come up with one thing. So I think she knows why she won't debate. It would be like a birthday cake versus a chainsaw if she showed up," Lake said on "Fox & Friends" Monday.

Robach also pointed out during the segment that Hobbs previously refused to debate her fellow primary opponents leading up to her nomination.

Kari Lake, Republican gubernatorial candidate for Arizona, during an Election Night Party in Scottsdale, Arizona, US, on Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2022. (Caitlin O'Hara/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

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"That was a different story, and I won that by a wide margin, so it was not an issue. But when people like Kari Lake did everything they could to challenge the election results and try to overturn the will of the voters, I stood firm, and I continue to stand firm," Hobbs said.

Fox News' Elizabeth Heckman contributed to this report.