After waiting more than four months for his Democrat opponent to agree to a traditional debate, Virginia Republican lieutenant governor candidate John Reid decided to take matters into his own hands — with the help of artificial intelligence.
Reid told Newsmax on Tuesday that Democrat state Sen. Ghazala Hashmi repeatedly declined to appear on stage with him, despite multiple offers. So last week, Reid held a 40-minute debate against an AI version of Hashmi.
"I waited 125 days for her to agree to what used to be standard practice — one debate," Reid told "National Report." "I offered 10 debates, but she wouldn't even do a joint appearance on National Public Radio."
Reid said Hashmi's campaign was banking on television ads instead of public debate.
"I know what she was doing. She was assuming that her $5 million of George Soros and out-of-state money would allow her to buy a lot of TV ads and buy this seat."
"Well, I wouldn't let that happen," Reid added.
So, Reid said, he created a debate himself.
"I hired a guy to produce a debate. I paid for it out of our campaign funds," he explained.
"We didn't want this to look like some 'Saturday Night Live' skit. We didn't want to use the dumbest thing she's ever said."
"Let's be fair to Sen. Hashmi."
Reid said the AI-generated debate used Hashmi's real public statements and policy positions, and he recorded his answers live without rehearsal or editing.
"Her positions are pretty extreme as they are — I don't have to make anything up," Reid said.
"I just responded to the same material that Sen. Hashmi's very well-cited statements responded to, and I hope people will check it out."
Reid said even Hashmi's staff took notice, dismissing the AI debate as a "cheap stunt." But when challenged to name any inaccuracies, he said they couldn't.
"One of the things I tell the voters is I want to be a fair person," Reid said. "That's a part of who I am as a man."
"I think I was fair to her."
Reid said the project demonstrates both his commitment to transparency and his frustration with a political system he says favors big money and consultants over voters.
"I think anybody who watches that debate is going to feel like I've got sound public policy experience and that I'm with the voters, not with the consultant class in D.C.," Reid said.
"And I think that's going to win."
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