Memorable quips from Thursday's Betofest in Abilene

Greg Jaklewicz | Abilene

There were cheers (for the candidates), groans (for their opponents or the status quo) and even some good laughs Thursday at the Paramount Theatre, where five Democrats running for election in November spoke.

The main speaker was U.S. Rep. Beto O'Rourke, of El Paso, who was making his fourth overall stop in Abilene. He received a rock star's welcome.

More: Democrats at Abilene's Paramount Theater roar for U.S. Senate candidate O'Rourke

More: Ag commissioner's boots are made for walking the fields, candidate Olson says

The candidates offered several memorable moments.

For example, Mike Collier, the Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor, said Republican incumbent Dan Patrick has spent more time "in the bathroom" than on education.

Steven Kirkwood, a Cooper High School graduate who is running for Place 2 on the Texas Supreme Court, admired the setting and noted that he saw one of the greatest movies of all time below the twinkling stars and floating clouds of the Paramount: "The Rocky Horror Picture Show."

He told the Reporter-News later that his father, David, couldn't make the rally because he was obligated to afternoon canasta play, at which a group of 85-year-old women dote on him.

Here are some other comments and one-liners that stayed with us:

► O'Rourke: “This feels so good, even though I know you should be at work right now."

► Kim Olson, Texas agriculture commissioner candidate, talking directly to women in audience about voting this fall: "This is our year ... this ain't the prom."

► O'Rouke, on what he has learned about Olson: "Stay the hell out of her way."

► Kirkwood, on how he's known: "The bald gay guy from Abilene."

► O'Rourke, on teachers needing to spend more time on instruction instead of worrying about guns: "I had three years of remedial algebra."

► Collier: "I am Dan Patrick's worst nightmare."

► O'Rourke, on listening to a Republican's point of view: "Even that mother-in-law you don't want to talk about."

► Kristina Campos-David, new Taylor County Democratic Party chairperson, on Thursday's crowd of almost 800: "Look around ... this is amazing."