Beto O'Rourke Faces New Political Perils As Launch of Fall Campaign Begins

[douglas9]

The political momentum seems to be blowing in the direction of Beto O’Rourke. The Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate had a video go viral of him defending NFL players’ right to take a knee during the national anthem, prompting an appearance next week on Ellen DeGeneres’s TV show. There’s the growing crowds that have greeted him at each stop in the more than thirty days straight he has been on the road. And then there are yard signs everywhere—thanks to his $4 million investment in campaign merchandise and a willingness of enthusiastic supporters to buy them at $10 a pop. Free publicity is great publicity.

But there is a growing unease among some longtime Democrats that O’Rourke’s campaign is unprepared for the onslaught that Republican incumbent Ted Cruz and his well-financed allies are about to unleash.

The NFL video captured the hearts of DeGeneres and others on its way to becoming viral—and alienated many as well as provoking a swift counterpunch from the Cruz campaign with a response video featuring a Vietnam veteran whose legs were blown off during combat. Dallas-area Marine Corps veteran Tim Lee joined Cruz on the campaign trail this week in his wheelchair to emphasize the idea that he can no longer stand but he expects others to do it for him.

Then on Friday, President Trump endorsed Cruz and promised to come to Texas to campaign for him in October.

https://www.texasmonthly.com/politics/beto-orourke-face-attacks-ted-cruz-allies-fall-campaign/

[Me.]

1. How About Worrrying Less & Helping More

[ananda]

8. Hear, hear!

I think Beto can handle it!!!!

[Pope George Ringo II]

2. Beto's response to the fishbowl is important.

Like a lot of us, he made some mistakes when he was young and stupid. How he handles that today says something important about the man he is now, and I believe what it's saying is positive.

Admittedly, I'd vote for an axe-murderer before Ted Cruz, so I may not be unbiased.

[Iliyah]

3. GOPers are dirty when it comes to what they want all in the name

of their GAWD.

If the election is close, I guarantee that the GOPers will steal it. They did it in Ohio and I believe with GA.

To be GAWD fearing GOPers sure use his name for horrible outcomes.

[Gothmog]

4. I talked to my contacts at the Texas state party

They are not worried

[Susan Calvin]

6. Hope that means something.

Has the state party got its act together since last I paid attention?

[Gothmog]

10. Read @BetoORourke's story of his DUI... and what it taught him about criminal justice reform.

The TDP had Beto put this a couple of weeks ago

Link to tweet

[Power 2 the People]

5. Hoping TX GOP voters have some Trump fatigue and buyers remorse

Swing it to Beto.

[They_Live]

7. Texas Monthly can go

jump in the lake. Cruz is a jerk

[KayF]

9. "By contrast, Cruz has an effective traditional campaign structure..."

By contrast, Cruz has an effective, traditional campaign structure, battle tested by a contentious 2016 presidential foray,

They're talking about the 2016 campaign that he lost to a candidate with no political experience?