'You can win this!': how Beto O'Rourke is becoming Joe Biden's greatest ally

[marmar]

(Guardian UK) Beto O’Rourke has a plan for America, and it starts in Texas. The Democrat from El Paso, who became a global superstar with his insurgent 2018 bid to oust Ted Cruz from the US senate then went on to contest the Democratic presidential nomination, is back where he says he likes it most – trying to move mountains in the Lone Star state.

With less than a month to go before early voting opens in Texas, with its giant crop of 38 electoral college votes in play, O’Rourke has a message for his one-time Democratic presidential rival. “We can see what’s happening in Texas and are screaming at Joe Biden from the roof tops. ‘Hey, over here! You can win this!’”

O’Rourke points to FiveThirtyEight’s poll tracker that has Donald Trump just one point ahead of Biden in Texas – an astonishingly close call for a state that has voted solidly for Republican presidential candidates since Jimmy Carter in 1976. He points to the state’s rapidly diversifying population that turned minority majority in 2005 and has seen 2m more new voters registered even since his paper-thin defeat to Cruz two years ago.

Winning Texas is the definitive answer to any dirty tricks Trump might be tempted to try were he to lose the election on 3 November, O’Rourke contends. “If Texas comes in for a Democrat for the first time in almost half a century the shock will be seismic. Trump may or may not accept those results, but the rest of the country absolutely will. It will forever reorder what’s possible.” ...........(more)

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/sep/23/you-can-win-this-how-beto-orourke-is-becoming-joe-bidens-greatest-ally

[dalton99a]

1. Beto is of tremendous help to Democrats statewide in Texas

especially in his project to flip the Texas House.

[CrispyQ]

2. Beto has wonderful charisma and enthusiasm and is such an asset for our side!

[femmocrat]

3. I love Beto.

I hope he will run for a national office again!

[Thekaspervote]

4. Oh same here..he's got it all!!

[Lonestarblue]

7. First, I want him to run for governor of Texas in 2022.

Abbott needs to go. He is single handedly responsible for the spike in virus cases here because he reopened everything far too early. After a stint as governor, Beto will be ready for the White House.

[roamer65]

11. Beto would make a great governor of TX.

A small stint as a cabinet secretary then become governor.

[Dustlawyer]

17. Ditto!

[Lucinda]

5. ❤️ ✿❧🌿❧✿ ❤️

[Blue Owl]

6. Yeah!!!

Awesome work, Beto!

[SayItLoud]

8. Electoral scheme. Of all states that will change the popular vote to tRUMP

Texas is number one on the list.

[JI7]

9. He really has been impressive. He has done more for Texas than the 2 fools

who are supposed to be senator.

If we win Texas or even come close it would be becsuse of the work Beto is doing.

[dlk]

10. The Biden campaign should direct a little more of it's attention to Texas

This is too big of an opportunity to miss! Beto has been doing the hard work. Biden’s not brushing off Texas’ 38 electoral votes could be a game-changer

[Lonestarblue]

15. Yes. And one focus should be healthcare.

For the last several years, Texas has ranked number 1 in the nation for the most people without any health insurance. And the state’s idiot Republican legislature refused to expand Medicaid under the ACA, which would have provided healthcare to many here. In addition, the maternal death rate in Texas equals that of some third-world countries. Biden does not even need to get into the closing of so many health clinics because Medicaid expansion Would take care of that. No would likes to see high maternal death rates and people having to rely on emergency room care during a pandemic.

The other topic here, oddly enough, should be climate warming. The Texas coast has been hammered in recent years, and I think some coastal voters would welcome talk about finally addressing climate change. This topic is tricky, though, because of all the oil jobs in Texas. Perhaps the balance is that oil jobs aren’t going away anytime soon but that steps need to be taken to stop global warming or the Texas coast will continue to have disaster after disaster.

Biden needs a few trips here. He is not making the mistake Hillary did of not traveling to states considered to be in the bag for Democrats, but Texas could also be in play with some concerted effort. And he should appear with MJ Hegar to help her race against Cornyn. Winning that unexpected Senate seat would have me reaching for the champagne bottle!

I think Andrew Yang would also be a good emissary for Biden because he is a technology guy and Texas has a lot of technology hubs and jobs—and he might better appeal to that younger cohort. Does anyone here have direct access to the Biden campaign? I have emailed in the past and gotten zilch.

Edited to add another thought.

The accessibility of college is a big concern for parents everywhere, but the Hispanic community wants their kids to go to college as a means to have a better life. The cost of college needs to be addressed everywhere, but I think it would resonate very well here. It has been a part of that American Dream for immigrants for decades.

[dlk]

16. Healthcare is at the top of the list for most Americans

Particularly with the Covid pandemic. How irrational is it for Republicans to work at killing the ACA in these circumstances? And why wouldn’t the mainstream media focus more attention on this fact?

[Rice4VP]

12. Biden should go to Texas and Arizona

he can ride his bike to Pennsylvania any other time

[dlk]

13. This isn't the time for tunnel vision

Too much is at stake.

[peggysue2]

14. Beto for the win

In enthusiasm and the ability to excite and motivate voters. Not sure how Texas will go but the fact that Biden's numbers are so close is a credit to O'Rourke's tireless canvassing and outreach. That goes for state races as well.

We'll be hearing more from Beto O'Rourke. I sensed that the moment he entered the fray.