Xavier Becerra ducks media as campaign for California governor tries to run out the clock

Xavier Becerra is running — for California governor and away from the press.The Democratic frontrunner has gone nearly two months without making himself available for media questions, an unusual strategy that critics say reflects a campaign that is overly confident California’s overwhelming Democratic registration advantage will carry Becerra to victory in November.Becerra was last made available for questions from reporters on June 9, according to KCRA 3’s Ashley Zavala and ABC 10’s Jenny Huh, just a week after the June 2 primary propelled the former Biden administration health secretary into the November runoff against Hilton.The duck-and-weave continued Wednesday at the state Capitol, where Becerra appeared at a press conference on voting rights before slipping out early and briskly heading toward a waiting vehicle as reporters chased after him.“Do you have any regrets about your HHS career?” The California Post asked twice with no response.Becerra eventually offered one answer when Huh asked whether he would accept Hilton’s challenge to debate.“Yes,” he said.Becerra’s campaign has yet to say when, where or how many times a debate could occur.“It’s actually unbelievable to me that Becerra seems to be running this race — if running is the word — in such a lazy, arrogant and entitled manner,” Republican challenger Steve Hilton told The Post.“Who does he think he is?”Hilton added, “He’s acting like the next man up for the top job in a Soviet politburo.

He’s just the latest puppet to be installed by the machine without bothering to even go through even the pretense of actual democracy.”Becerra has plenty of reasons to clam up and sit tight.Democrats had nearly 10.4 million registered voters heading into the primary, or 44.9% of California’s electorate, compared with about 5.8 million Republicans, or just under 25% of registered voters, according to the California Secretary of State.Becerra also finished first in the crowd...