Arizona governor stumbles in debate, acknowledges her performance wasn’t up to par

Arizona governor stumbles in televised debate

PHOENIX — Gov. Jan Brewer calls it the “longest 16 seconds of my life.”

She stumbled through her opening statement during a televised debate Wednesday night in a cringe-eliciting performance that was quickly turning into an Internet sensation.

Brewer lost her train of thought as she was talking about her successes as governor, smiling and laughing as she struggled to speak.

“We have done everything that we could possibly do,” Brewer said before the start of a long pause. “We have, uh, did what was right for Arizona.” She then went on to regain her composure and continue with the debate.

She also abruptly halted a session with reporters afterward as she refused to answer questions about her June statement that there have been immigrant beheadings in Arizona.