The network claimed it was an “error” and part of an Associated Press test.
QUICK FACTS:
- Arizona’s FOX 10 Channel aired graphics calling the Arizona governor’s race for Democrat Katie Hobbs.
- The network made what it called an “error” connected with an Associated Press test on Thursday, broadcasting that Hobbs won over Trump-back Kari Lake by seven points.
- Currently, Hobbs is about 11 points behind Lake in the polls.
- Fox 10 responded to the outrage saying that the graphic was generated by the AP’s preparation for the upcoming elections.
- “This graphic was never meant to go on air – the numbers were only part of a test. The station has already taken steps to make sure this cannot happen again,” the station said.
LAKE’S RESPONSE:
- Lake tweeted a screenshot of the network’s race results, later attributing the mistake to an interaction with the media and her opposition.
- “@katiehobbs called me a crook & the media spread her bile. I called a presser to ask them to show some intellectual curiosity, do their jobs,” Lake said. “@FOX10Phoenix must not have liked it. Tonight, they called the race for Katie.”
BACKGROUND:
- Lake was in the news recently calling a break-in at Hobbs campaign headquarters “Jussie Smollett part two.”
- “That is absolutely absurd. It sounds like a Jussie Smollett part two. You’re going to drag the people through something like this,” Lake said in response to a question from a CNN reporter following an event honoring the first responders on Wednesday. “You’re letting a woman who has been running a terrible campaign direct you to a story like this? You know she is running a bad campaign.”
- The Arizona Democratic Party attempted to connect Lake to the break-in saying, “This is a direct result of Kari Lake and fringe Republicans spreading lies and hate and inciting violence — and it is despicable.”
