Sipu Jha
California gubernatorial candidate Katie Porter came under criticism after abruptly trying to end an interview during a question about how she plans to win over Republican voters who supported US President Donald Trump. The exchange, recorded last month and aired on CBS News on Monday, quickly went viral.During the interview, CBS correspondent Julie Watts asked Porter how she intended to secure the votes of the 40 per cent of California voters who backed Trump. Porter responded initially by insisting she would seek support from all voters. However, the tone quickly shifted as Porter said, “I feel like this is unnecessarily argumentative. What is your question?” and then attempted to remove her microphone, saying, “I don’t want to keep doing this. I’m going to call it.” She added, “I don’t want this all on camera.”Watts posted the three-minute clip on social media, with the full interview continuing for 20 more minutes according to Porter’s campaign.Porter, 51, has a history of tense moments in public and private life. In 2013 divorce filings, her ex-husband alleged she displayed a temper that included throwing objects and pouring hot mashed potatoes on his head. She has also faced accusations of bullying staff and publicly criticized law enforcement, according to The New York Post.Porter remains a frontrunner in the race to succeed term-limited governor Gavin Newsom, currently leading the field by seven points according to RealClearPolitics.The incident drew criticism from fellow Democrats. California state superintendent Tony Thurmond said, “No candidate for Governor should hide from the press or mistreat them – we owe it to the public to be transparent. If she can’t answer basic questions from a reporter, how can Californians expect her to stand up to President Trump?”Former Los Angeles mayor Antonio Villaraigosa commented, “We need a leader who will solve hard problems and answer simple questions.” Former health secretary Xavier Becerra added, “Every Californian deserves affordable health care, safe streets, a roof over their head and a living wage.”Conservative social media users also criticized Porter for her reaction, questioning her ability to connect with Trump voters necessary for winning the governor’s seat.
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