Beto O’Rourke may be lagging in the polls, but many who met him Sunday said the rising Democratic star and presidential hopeful has what it takes to be the party's nominee.

“I think he’s a fine fellow, making time to make personal contact and being willing to listen,” said Joan Tobey, a high school math teacher at Spartanburg Day School who met O'Rourke during a campaign stop at Krispy Kreme doughnut shop in Spartanburg Sunday morning.

“I’ve always admired him,” added Susan Baker, a retired school psychologist from Spartanburg School District 3. “He talked about the direction of the country. I’m looking for a candidate to put us together with a moral center.”

Married and a father of three, O’Rourke also attended a Father’s Day service at Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church where he spoke about 20 minutes on issues ranging from healthcare to prison overpopulation.

O’Rourke previously has called for the end of private, for-profit prisons; decriminalizing marijuana and universal healthcare.

He said it is ironic that in the wealthiest country in the world, “people in the year 2019 will die from diabetes, of the flu, curable cancer -- not for lack of resources, but for lack of political will.”

Many who spoke with O’Rourke Sunday said they were impressed with his presence. But none said they plan to commit their vote yet, with a field of more than 20 Democrats.

“I thought he was energetic and positive,” Billy Gunn said after shaking O’Rourke's hand at Krispy Kreme. “He’s one of many good Democratic candidates. People tend to downplay the Democratic field because it’s so large. But individually, there are a lot of good ones.”

After the church service, Macedonia member Tina Miller said, “I like his platform. I think he’ll be a great candidate. He seems like he’s for the people."

James Frye said he also came away impressed with O’Rourke.

“He was very genuine,” Frye said, adding that his willingness to meet voters “shows the personal side of him. He’s a politician that never meets a stranger.”

Carolyn Frye said O’Rourke, 46, reminds her of former Democratic presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy who was rising in popularity when he was assassinated in 1968.

“He’s an outstanding young man -- intelligent and professional,” she said of O'Rourke. “I know he’s passionate and cares for all the people. I think he will climb in the polls.”

In polls released last week, O’Rourke was running from 2 percent to 4 percent, far behind the top contenders, Joe Biden, Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders.

Nonetheless, O’Rourke got enough support to be among those invited to the stage June 26 for a televised debate hosted by the Democratic National Committee.

O’Rourke was the seventh Democratic hopeful to visit Spartanburg this year. South Carolina is one of the early primary states in the 2020 presidential election.

Robert Francis “Beto” O’Rourke represented Texas’ 16th congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2013-2019. In 2018, O’Rourke lost a bid to unseat Republican U.S. Sen.Ted Cruz. He announced his campaign for president March 14 this year.

After visiting Spartanburg Sunday morning, O’Rourke was scheduled to drop by a coffee shop in Greenville and then attend a Greenville Town Hall Sunday afternoon.