Last updated on September 26th, 2018 at 04:18 am
Republicans are in such a panic over Rep. Beto O’Rourke‘s Senate run that they are sending Trump to Texas to campaign against him.
Trump announced via tweet:
I will be doing a major rally for Senator Ted Cruz in October. I’m picking the biggest stadium in Texas we can find. As you know, Ted has my complete and total Endorsement. His opponent is a disaster for Texas – weak on Second Amendment, Crime, Borders, Military, and Vets!
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— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 31, 2018
CNBC reported that Trump is going to Texas because Republican panic is growing over O’Rourke‘s surge, “The announcement of a presidential campaign trip more than a month in advance reflects the growing sense of panic among Republicans, who fear that a Senate seat once considered among the most solidly Republican in all of American politics could be up for grabs. The reason for the GOP‘s panic is not so much that Cruz is doing poorly, per se, but that his opponent, Rep. Beto O’Rourke, D-Texas, is doing so well.”
Sending Trump to Texas may only help Beto O’Rourke
Texas may not be the best place to send Donald Trump to campaign. His approval ratings have been consistently underwater in the state. Trump has never been very popular in the Lone Star State. More people in Texas currently disapprove than approve of Trump (43%-46%). A Trump visit in the last few weeks before the election could play into O’Rourke‘s hands and boost support for the Democrat ahead of election day.
Trump could cost Ted Cruz the GOP presidential nomination, and his Senate seat
It also points to Cruz’s desperation that he would embrace Trump, as the incumbent is banking on winning reelection by motivating the statewide Republican advantage to the show up at the polls. However, the downside of embracing Trump is that it could cost Cruz his seat. Ted Cruz has never been over popular in Texas. He is the poster boy for being able to win because he has an (R) beside his name. It would be one of the great moments in recent campaign history if Trump first cost Ted Cruz the presidential nomination in 2016, and then came to Texas and cost Cruz his Senate seat.
Beto O’Rourke is surging. Republicans are freaking, and Ted Cruz could soon be out of a job.
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Jason is the managing editor. He is also a White House Press Pool and a Congressional correspondent for PoliticusUSA. Jason has a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science. His graduate work focused on public policy, with a specialization in social reform movements.
Awards and Professional Memberships
Member of the Society of Professional Journalists and The American Political Science Association
