Xavier Becerra goes eerily silent as he runs out the clock on California governors race

Xavier Becerra’s campaign for governor has hit the snooze button since winning the California gubernatorial primary in June — but his indolent strategy may become an issue as voters wake up ahead of November’s election.The career Democratic politician — rising from the state Legislature to Congress, California attorney general and eventually US health secretary — has kept a strikingly low profile since advancing to the runoff with Republican challenger Steve Hilton.Hilton claims Becerra, who promised to debate Hilton last month, has since dodged no fewer than eight invitations to do just that.“He can’t have a scheduling conflict for everything,” Hilton told The California Post.California Democrats enjoy a sizable voter-registration advantage over the GOP, raising speculation that Becerra sees the race as a cakewalk — which Hilton called an insult to voters.

“This guy is either asleep, gone on vacation or is absolutely terrified of answering any questions.Either way, it is treating Californians with complete contempt,” Hilton added.

Becerra’s website, which was found to be woefully out of date in a recent report by the San Francisco Standard, lists just four press releases since late June.Meanwhile, his public calendar has been notably sparse, mostly eschewing rallies for fundraisers and elite meet-and-greets.“It’s exactly what you expect from a 36-year career politician who has failed at every job he’s had,” Hilton said.

“Now we know why when he was in the Biden cabinet, [former US ambassador to the United Nations] Susan Rice called him ‘bitch-ass Becerra.’”One of Becerra’s most notable campaign moments since early June was a quick-step to a getaway car as he dodged reporters’ questions while slipping out early from a Capitol press conference.Becerra’s lethargic approach has left even some prominent California Democrats and interest groups wondering what he would do if elected governor.“He’s the incredible missing...