Will Weissert/AP Photo 2020 Elections Beto O'Rourke: I'd 'absolutely' do a Fox town hall

DAVENPORT, Iowa — Beto O’Rourke said Monday he would “absolutely” do a Fox News town hall — breaking with some of his Democratic rivals who've sworn off the pro-Trump network.

“Absolutely,” O’Rourke said when asked about his willingness to appear on Fox. “This campaign is about going to where people are, and you see that physically in where I show up. But it also has to be in those channels or those social media streams where people get their news and their information. That also includes Fox.”


Speaking to reporters after touring flood damage in eastern Iowa, O’Rourke said he was unaware of any current talks with Fox, but that it's possible his campaign has had discussions.

“Very open to doing that,” he said.

O’Rourke’s remarks come a day after South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg participated in a town hall hosted by Fox News’ Chris Wallace in New Hampshire. Bernie Sanders and Amy Klobuchar have done events on the channel, as well.

But other Democrats have refused. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, turning down a Fox News invitation recently, called the network a “hate-for-profit racket that gives a megaphone to racists and conspiracists.” The Democratic National Committee has refused to partner with FOX for DNC-sanctioned primary debates.

O’Rourke began his fourth visit to Iowa as a presidential candidate on Monday, with two town halls scheduled in the state before a Tuesday night appearance at a televised CNN town hall — his first of the campaign.

O'Rourke has recently started going on national TV more as he seeks to regain his footing in the primary. He was at 5 percent nationally in the most recent POLITICO/Morning Consult poll.