Arizona governor reported to skip Trump's conservative rally in Phoenix

0 Comment(s)Print E-mail Xinhua, August 22, 2017
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LOS ANGELES, Aug. 21 (Xinhua) -- Arizona Governor Doug Ducey will not show in U.S. President Donald Trump's campaign-style rally scheduled to be held Tuesday in Phoenix, capital of the Grand Canyon state, local media reported Monday.

The rally is Trump's first trip to Arizona after winning the White House and the first trip to the West under mounting criticism for his ambiguous attitude to the white supremacy violence which resulted in the death of one women in Charlottesville, Virginia on Aug. 12.

According to local news website AZ Central. Com, Daniel Scarpinato, spokesman of the Republican governor, wrote a statement to the Republic Party of the state, saying that Ducey would skip the rally and work with law enforcement "toward a safe event in downtown Phoenix for all those involved and in the area."

The statement was not released on the Governor Office's website or his official social media pages. But ABC 15 news channel also said Docey would only meet the president when the latter arrives at Phoenix Airport on Tuesday afternoon.

Richard Herrera, an associate professor of political science at Arizona State University, was quoted by the AZ Central. Com as saying that the governor's move is trying to strike a balance between Republican voters who ardently support Trump and those who vehemently oppose him, in order to prepares for his 2018 reelection bid.

A handshake at the airport is the "least public way possible" for Ducey to show his respect while keeping his distance, Herrera said.

Even though Arizona is a stronghold of Republicans, it's also home to two of Trump's most vocal Republican critics -- Senator John McCain and Senator Jeff Flake. Flake was slammed by the president as "toxic" on his typical early morning Twitter last Thursday.

As thousands of Trump supporters and protesters are expected to flood downtown Phoenix, local residents have showed their worries to an uproar triggered by the president.

Phoenix Police Chief Jeri Williams has repeatedly promised that "maximum staffing" will be deployed at the event and noted Phoenix's partnerships with the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force and the Arizona Counter Terrorism Information Center.

In an email to Xinhua on Monday by Team Trump-Pence, organizers gave a list of prohibited items that will not be allowed in the rally Tuesday, including "weapons of any kind, ammunition, explosives, firearms, selfie sticks, toy guns and any other items determined to be potential safety hazard." Enditem

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