Staff Reports
Former President Donald Trump is stepping back into the political limelight with a tele-town hall rally set for Monday night, lending his star power to Kari Lake in her quest for the Senate GOP nomination in Arizona. The showdown is just a day away, with primary voters poised to choose between Lake and Pinal County Sheriff Mark Lamb, who hopes to take the fight to the general election against the unopposed Democratic contender, Rep. Ruben Gallego.
Lake’s strategy to tie herself to Trump is clearly an attempt to channel his formidable influence in a crucial Senate race that could either bolster or crumble the Democrats’ slim majority. This is a bold move, considering Lake’s previous foray into politics ended in a governorship loss, partly due to alienating Republican voters with her criticism of Arizona’s late Senator John McCain, a political icon in those parts. This time, she seems determined to stick closely to the Trump brand in what is likely a last-ditch effort for validation and victory.
Our 45th and soon-to-be 47th President, Donald J. Trump, is joining us for an Arizona Telerally TOMORROW.
Tune in at 5:00 PM Arizona Time, and help support @KariLake for the United States Senate. 🇺🇸🌵 pic.twitter.com/kSh4fQZGfr
— Kari Lake (@KariLake) July 28, 2024
According to a recent poll from Noble Predictive Insights, Lake is leading Lamb with a 49% to 38% advantage going into the primary. However, there are storm clouds on the horizon for her, as Mike Noble, the pollster in question, points out some concerning trends. Lake is trailing Lamb among key demographics—specifically younger voters, Independents, and those party-first Republicans who might just have a thing or two to say about her past missteps.
With the Democrats keenly eyeing Arizona, the stakes couldn’t be higher. Lake faces the uphill battle of reshaping her campaign before potentially facing Gallego, especially if she hopes to win over voters she seems to be struggling with. Noble’s earlier surveys have indicated that while Trump has a magnetic appeal across various demographics, Lake has yet to match that kind of resonance among Independents, suburban women, and other crucial voting blocs.
Gallego, meanwhile, remains a formidable opponent, having previously led Lake in hypothetical matchups. A February survey found Gallego ahead by 10 points, with a sizeable chunk of voters still undecided about the candidates. With Senator Kyrsten Sinema opting out of the race, the Democrats smell blood and are gearing up to capitalize on this open seat. The political insiders at the Cook Political Report have already put their money on the Democrats, rating the race as “Lean D,” which only adds to the pressure on Lake to prove she can make a serious case for conservative values and garner broader support.
As the primary approaches, all eyes in Arizona will be on whether Lake can pull off a victory and secure a shot at the Senate, or if she’s headed for another crash landing—with Trump’s crowd in her corner, the outcome is sure to reverberate through the conservative circles.
