Rick Perry says Trump won't stump again in Texas despite tight polls, but Harris is on the way

[RandySF]

Despite a new poll showing he trails in Texas, President Donald Trump will not stump again in the state, his spokesman and former Gov. Rick Perry said Sunday.

“He’s going to be in battleground states,” Perry, Trump’s former energy secretary, told reporters on a call the campaign arranged to critique Democrat Joe Biden’s energy policies. “Texas is not a battleground state, it’s that simple.”

A poll released Sunday by The Dallas Morning News and University of Texas at Tyler shows Biden leading 48%-45% among likely voters. That’s within the margin of error, but it’s also a 5-point reversal from the last such poll in early September.

Biden’s running mate, Sen. Kamala Harris, will stump in Texas on Friday, four days before Election Day.

So far, neither Democrat has campaigned in Texas, though their spouses have, and Texas Democrats have been increasingly frustrated at the apparent neglect in the face of what they deem a historic opportunity to flip the state.



https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2020/10/25/rick-perry-says-trump-wont-stump-again-in-texas-despite-tight-polls-because-texas-is-not-a-battleground/

[vercetti2021]

1. Hey Rick

A lot has changed since you were Governor. This isn't a non voting state that kept your dumbass in power. Its gonna become democratic.

[dchill]

2. I'll drink to that!

[TlalocW]

3. Being the pessimist that I am

If the polls are as tight as they are then the republicans in charge probably realize that with a minimum of mucking about, Trump will eke out a victory. I hope that's not the case, but the alternative is t believe republicans are honorable.

TlalocW

[sunonmars]

4. one problem is they do not know what level of GOP defection to Biden there is or where

They can't counter that if its too heavy

[onetexan]

5. good one, and i know a few GOP voters who've defected

if TX turns blue this election year it confirms the trope that for Dems the state is a non-voting one. Given the work done by Beto & his campaign, the local state & county level Dems, and the political atmosphere created by the Con the past 4 years ppl are just sick & tired & turning out in record numbers.

Increasingly many many transplants are relocating to TX for better job market & low cost of living . Austin alone is estimated to have ~100-110 newcomers arriving daily. Arguably for Austin city itself cost of housing is not as affordable, but the suburbs certainly are. Everywhere around me new homes are going up like gangbusters. Austin is experiencing urban creep in every direction - West, South, East, North sides - and those bedroom cities are redeveloping into vibrant communities of their own. The residents are close enough to Austin to come in if they choose but are away from the hectic traffic closer to downtown. Weather is mild year round save the 2 hot months of July & August. I'll take that for the other 10 months of good weather any day, not to mention the low cost of living, beautiful hill country, cultural diversity, high tech market, many other amenities and great outdoors.

This goes for the other major metro areas as well - Houston, DFW, El Paso, San Antonio. All are experiencing population growth and prosperous economies. TX is a great place to live. We just need to GOTV to turn it blue again

[sunonmars]

7. 2018 showed they can win many many battles on state level by turning out and it made a difference

It woke them up.

Once they realise after years of "my vote doesnt count", it was suddenly, oh it does"

[onetexan]

10. Definitely. Tarrant County where i lived in years past turned purple in 2018 & went for Beto, though

he lost by narrow margins statewide.
https://www.star-telegram.com/news/politics-government/election/article221281440.html

This goes to show the hard work of GOTV does pay off. But Dems cannot let up, must stay focused & keep up to GOTV efforts, not just during general & midterm election years, but also cycle-round in the in-between years as well when there isn't a rush rush to get votes. It's the mindset politics directly affects my life & my families & loved ones' lives, that my vote will count, that my vote is my voice, and that i can with other likeminded Texans collectively make a difference with my vote. Many people don't bother to vote because they don't understand how it affects them. I have a doctor friend who thinks politics doesn't affect her at all. Ignorant of course, but that's what we're up against.

[TlalocW]

6. Maybe it's naivete on my part

But I picture republicans able to throw a lever (or more accurately push a key) and oops, there goes a lot of democratic votes. I've always felt that in 2012, there was supposed to be some shenanigans in Ohio after it was called for Obama, and Karl Rove lost his shit. I always imagined a metaphorical lever was supposed to be thrown but for whatever reason - tech difficulties, the guy who was supposed to chickening out, etc. never did.

Just my own personal conspiracy theory.

TlalocW

[mucifer]

8. This year we have A LOT more lawyers fighting for EVERY vote

[radius777]

9. Dems should've invested more in TX.

They likely believe the Midwest is more likely path to victory due to the polls. But the underlying fundamentals (large metro areas, diverse, younger) point to TX becoming the next CA. And if the Rust Belt polls are wrong again (not likely, but underlying fundamentals of it being older whiter and rural favor the GOP in the long run) and it turns out TX was very close and they failed to really try for it, we could regret it.

[Tom Rinaldo]

11. Trump can't go to Texas now because that is a clear admission of defeat.

If he is openly struggling to hold onto Texas with a week to go before the election the handwriting is engraved on his forehead. At this point Trump going anywhere other than traditional battle ground states is an admission of weakness. It is bad enough that he is struggling to shore up Georgia and Iowa.

[The Magistrate]

12. Quite True, Sir

[beachbumbob]

13. weird at best as Texas is close and so far democratic turnout is killing it, does state GOP see

that their polling shows a certain loss to Biden??

[dalton99a]

14. Kick

“Let no one be mistaken — Donald Trump’s candidacy is a cancer on conservatism, and it must be clearly diagnosed, excised, and discarded. He offers a barking carnival act that can be best described as ‘Trumpism’: a toxic mix of demagoguery, mean-spiritedness, and nonsense that will lead the Republican Party to perdition if pursued.”
— Rick Perry, July 2015