Democrat's debate 'cue cards' steal spotlight in high-stakes Senate clash

Alaska Democratic Senate hopeful Mary Peltola faced ridicule Thursday night after her use of notecards during a debate with Republican Sen.

Dan Sullivan drew mocking responses from GOP critics — including a pointed jab from her incumbent opponent.

Sullivan is in an unusually close race with Peltola, a former congresswoman, that is further complicated by another candidate with his same name but a different middle initial, as Republicans fight to hold their narrow Senate majority.

"Really, Mary? Reading off a script? You can't cue-card your way through the Senate," Sullivan wrote on X after Peltola appeared to have a notecard-sized paper with bullet points that she looked down at for several seconds while responding to earlier questions.

GOP SENATOR, EX-HOUSE DEM EMERGE FROM ALASKA’S ‘JUNGLE PRIMARY’ DESPITE FAR-LEFT MEDDLING The criticism quickly became a flashpoint in the candidates' debate-night exchanges, with Republican commentators seizing on Peltola's apparent use of prepared notes.

"Mary, blink twice if you are okay.

It seems you can't string a sentence together without reading from the talking points your Lower 48 handlers wrote you," NRSC official Joanna Rodriguez posted on X .

Another social media user took aim at Peltola's apparent reliance on notes even while discussing personal details.

"Mary Peltola can't read her name or that she's a grandmother without needing a cue card," the user wrote, adding a laughing emoji.

After Peltola appeared to read from her card another time, Sullivan cut in that he had a question for the moderators. 'THEY WERE SPYING': SULLIVAN SOUNDS ALARM ON JOINT RUSSIA-CHINA MOVES IN U.S.

ARCTIC ZONE INSERT CLIP: 6389131701112 "We weren't supposed to get these questions beforehand, were we?" he asked the debate moderators.

"No sir," Alaska's News Source reporter Wil Courtney replied.

"Absolutely not," added Alaska Public Media chief editor Lori Townsend.

"OK," Sullivan said.