With Deb Haaland already facing criticism for skipping multiple Democratic gubernatorial debates, KOAT-TV added a new wrinkle to the controversy: the Albuquerque station compared her strategy to President Donald Trump’s decision to sit out the 2024 Republican presidential primary debates.
But the comparison may say more about Haaland’s vulnerability than her strength.
In a Friday report, KOAT political analyst Brian Sanderoff said frontrunners often avoid debates to reduce risk, citing Haaland’s decision to decline several debate and town hall opportunities against Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman.
“The voters like debates. However, voters suffer as a result, because they get less information from these candidates,” Sanderoff said.
KOAT then compared Haaland’s approach to Trump’s 2024 Republican primary strategy, when the former president skipped debates while holding a massive lead over a crowded field that included Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.
Trump’s campaign argued he had little reason to give struggling rivals a platform, especially as he maintained that the 2020 election had been stolen from him in favor of Joe Biden and presented himself as the party’s rightful standard-bearer.
Haaland’s situation is very different.
Trump entered the 2024 primary as a former president with universal name identification among Republican voters and a commanding hold on the GOP base after the 2020 election had irregularities and election fraud claims.
Haaland, by contrast, is seeking a new office in an open New Mexico governor’s race and is asking voters to hand her control of the state after a record that includes controversial positions on energy, crime, and federal land policy.
That makes the debate issue more than a campaign tactic. It raises a basic question for Democratic primary voters: why is Haaland so reluctant to appear repeatedly on stage with Bregman?
That would make the piece much stronger and less stale.
KOAT , KRQE and KOB are manned with child reporters who parrot whatever the dem party tells them. they do no investigative work, question nothing the dems say or do, and run cover for them like good servants. Thats our local news media. Completely useless. Its truly hard to believe Haaland can receive even one vote. NM cant do any better than that ? they certainly cant do any worse, she is the bottom of the bottom.
I don’t know if this true or not but I don’t doubt it. Since the car wash broke off my car radio antenna, I can only get public radio. So I listen to it. I find it excruciatingly slanted and stupid.
word
It scares the hell out of me to think Deg Haaland may become our next governor. She’s a joke!
Let’s see if Deb will get away with refusing to debate the Republican candidate. I’m sure the media will give her a pass on that also.
Haaland doesn’t want to be embarrassed at a televised debate.
No comparison between smart Trump and dumb Haaland.
I switched my affiliation from Republican to DTS so I can vote against Haaland in this primary. Then I can vote Republican on Election Day. Not that it will do any good but I can say I tried my best.
Ronnie, that is becoming a trend with the primary. Even my wife is looking at doing the same thing for the reason you stated and others, like no Republican running for Santa Fe County Sheriff. She wants to be able to have a voice in who the Sheriff will be.
I agree with the above comments on our local TV stations..
Read the editorial in today’s ABQ journal the Opinion section.. “Haaland Town Hall snub part of disturbing pattern “. It’s right on .. please NM voters….. read the article, read the room on this candidate that makes me cringe when she opens her mouth.
I’ve never believed anything Sanderoff has preached about politics and now he’s showing signs of dementia! Halfwit Haaland more represents the cackling flatbacker from California!
Haaland is a Joke. She couldn’t even walk behind Trump. CANT STAND HER IF SHE IS ELECTED WE ARE SCREWED
That’s so obvious. She won’t debate bc she’ll inevitably be asked about being on Epstein’s plane with King.
She’s getting away with God only knows what….
NM elected Loser Gruesome twice, and didn’t learn a thing. They will elect Hallaand, too.
Buckle up and prepare for four more years of Tyranny
koat got what they wanted. A Reaction. 😆🍺
What is a woman? A woman is an adult human female. What is a Socialist? Socialist systems are characterized by social ownership of the means of production, public, community, collective, cooperative as opposed to private ownership. Socialism is the standard left-wing ideology in most countries as an effective means of control. Hence, what’s a Democrat to do??? Haaland follows the lead of the DNC as if it were inscribed in stone.
Trump didn’t need to debate. Deb Haaland wouldn’t stand a chance in a debate against a skilled litigator like Sam Bregman. The “media” should compare Haaland to Biden as her brain “short circuits” every time she’s asked a question and she just refers them to a representive