ARLINGTON -- Joe Biden said Wednesday that if he is the Democratic party’s presidential nominee he would commit the cash and resources needed to turn Texas blue.

“The answer is yes,” Biden said when asked whether he would spend precious campaign cash on winning Texas. “I know one thing. It’s not going to be enough to beat Trump. You’ve got to win back the Senate. You got to go in and campaign in states that are in fact doable, gettable, even if I can’t win in that state.”

For decades Texas has been described as an ATM for national candidates who siphon money from Lone Star donors to spend in other parts of the country.

But Texas Democrats predict that in 2020 they will win their first statewide race since 1994. And Democrats are nine seats away from controlling the Texas House for the first time since 2001.

“I think it can flip from red to blue nationally because it is close,” Biden said during a joint interview with The Dallas Morning News and KXAS-TV (NBC5). “Depending on the nominee…I think Texas is gettable.”

Biden first has to win the Democratic nomination for president. He’s the frontrunner in the March 3 Texas presidential primary and said he is the best choice for the party’s nomination because he has the broadest support.

“I represent the broadest coalition that constitutes the Democratic Party,” he said.

“Texas is changing,” he added. “It’s getting back to what it was when I first got elected. You used to have a couple of senators along the way there, governors…I feel good about Texas.”

But Republicans said Wednesday that Biden is out of touch with most Texans.

“Joe Biden continues to campaign on outrageous tax proposals, crushing economic plans, and now his failed record on foreign policy,” said Trump Victory campaign spokeswoman Samantha Cotten. “Meanwhile, President Trump continues to put America first as a leader on the world stage while delivering a stronger economy and fairer trade deals back home.”

Swing through North Texas

Biden’s interview with The Dallas Morning News is part of a two-day swing through North Texas. On Wednesday, he spoke at the National Baptist Convention’s mid-winter meeting in Arlington. Thursday, he’s scheduled to attend a fundraiser hosted by former Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings.

The National Baptist Convention, which is primarily composed of African American members, gives Biden the chance to fortify his strong standing with black voters.

His speech focused on being vigilant about fighting against hate, as well as the need for the country to unify.

“Sometimes progress runs fastest when we’re at our lowest point,” Biden told delegates at the meeting. “Sometimes those who fan the flames of hate end up drawing forth the next great wave of progress, and I believe we’re in one of those moments, from the bottom of my heart I believe we’re in one of those moments, with President Donald Trump.”

Immigration

During the 14-minute interview with The News and NBC5, Biden discussed a broad range of issues, including immigration.

The former vice president defended former President Barack Obama’s immigration record. Immigration advocates have criticized the Obama administration for deporting more than 3 million immigrants between 2009 and 2016.

“I saw the pain, and it’s real. When you separate families it’s real,” Biden said, without criticizing the former president. “My immigration policy is all about keeping families together.”

Biden also criticized Texas Gov. Greg Abbott for announcing that Texas would no longer resettle refugees in the state.

“Predictable with Gov. Abbott, but inconsistent with the law,” Biden said.

Trump’s impeachment trial

As Trump’s impeachment trial looms, Biden said it was important to uncover the facts about President Trump’s actions with Ukraine. Democrats allege that he held up aid to the country in connection with his request to the country’s leader to investigate Biden and his son, Hunter Biden.

“Anybody who can give testimony to what they know the president did or didn’t do should be testifying,” Biden said. “That’s the basis on whether a witness should be called.”

Biden said his son should not testify during the trial, as some Republicans have suggested. Part of Trump’s defense against impeachment was that he had a good reason to suspect Hunter Biden of corruption. Hunter Biden was on the board of one of Ukraine’s largest natural gas companies.

“That doesn’t make any sense,” Biden said about the prospect of his son testifying in an exchange for the testimony of former National Security Adviser John Bolton. “[Trump] got himself in trouble, in the beginning of this whole thing, by trying to get a foreign government to say something that wasn’t true.”

“Did he do that, or didn’t he do that?” Biden asked about Trump.

Biden said that Trump has been producing false television ads targeted to slime him.

“Apparently, I’m the object of his affection,” he said.

Picking a running mate, and loving the Eagles

Biden said that he’s talked to former Rep. Beto O’Rourke of El Paso and Julian Castro, the former San Antonio mayor and Housing Secretary, since they dropped out of the presidential race. He told The News that he would consider Texas’ favorite sons as his running mates or members of his cabinet.

“I would consider either or both of them. I’ve spoken to each of them,” Biden said. “My plea to both of them is that they stay engaged. They are talented, talented people.”

When asked what he liked about Texas, Biden didn’t give a detailed answer.

“There’s a whole lot I like about Texas,” he said.

But then Biden revealed something that would infuriate most fans of the Dallas Cowboys.

“I’m going to get in trouble for saying this,” he said. “I’m an Eagles fan. I know I’m not supposed to say that.”