POLITICAL INSIDER

Gov. Doug Ducey: Focus is on 'day job' not presidential race

Yvonne Wingett Sanchez
The Republic | azcentral.com
Gov. Doug Ducey (foreground) and Robert Graham, chairman of the Arizona Republican Party, celebrate after it was announced Donald Trump had won their party's nomination for president at the GOP National Convention at QuickenLoans Arena in Cleveland.

Gov. Doug Ducey, who led Arizona's delegation to the Republican National Convention last month in support of Donald Trump, said on the radio this week that he has no interest in national politics.

His remarks on the Bill Buckmaster show in Tucson came shortly after he holed up at the state Capitol for a meeting with U.S. Sens. John McCain and Jeff Flake.

Ducey appeared on Buckmaster's show on KVOI-AM (1030) on Wednesday. Toward the end of the interview — which ranged from education financing to the state's relationship with Mexico — Buckmaster said some are "puzzled by your support of Donald Trump." Later, he asked Ducey if he is taking a "very low-key approach" to the presidential race.

Ducey, who was on the convention floor in Cleveland cheering and clapping during the Roll Call of States, answered:

"I wouldn't say low-key. I would say I look at it this way, Bill: I'm new to public office. In many ways, I'm a first-semester freshman, OK? My focus is 100 percent on my day job, on the state of Arizona. I don't have a real attraction or interest to national politics, so I want to see Republicans win across the board in the state of Arizona, because those policies of lower taxes and lighter regulation and strong foreign policy are important to me. But my day job is governing and leading, and that's what we're trying to demonstrate."

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