Beto late than never for supporters of Senate candidate in Abilene

Scott Kirk | Special to the Reporter-News

Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Beto O’Rourke said people that he talks to aren’t interested in whether or not a Democrat can win a statewide office race or how close he is to his opponent and incumbent senator, Ted Cruz.

“No,” said O’Rourke moments before he addressed a full house at a town hall meeting Saturday evening at the Abilene Woman’s Club. “They’re not interested in the horse race aspect of this. In Eastland (his campaign stop before Abilene), we talked a lot about veterans and gun safety and public education and health care.”

O'Rourke, who was late for his Friday night meeting in November, was behind schedule Saturday, getting in front of his supporters about 30 minutes late.

By the time he arrived, the back parking lot at the Abilene Woman's Club was filled and early-arriving supporters had collected yard signs and other Beto-boosting material.

This was his third campaign visit to Abilene.

If anyone should have a finger on the pulse of Texas right now, it should be O’Rourke, the congressman from El Paso who has made it his pledge to visit all 254 counties in the state. He’s around 240 now. And while the issues may vary from county to county, there are topics that come up, regardless of how red or how blue the county may be.

“I’ve been surprised at how often health care comes up,” he said. “For a lot of people, that’s out of reach for them. Everybody wants to be well enough to be able to accomplish the things they want to do.”

More: 3 questions for 'Beto' O'Rouke during November Abilene visit

More: 'Betting on Beto': O'Rourke campaign events draw hundreds in Senate bid to unseat Ted Cruz

Abilene was the end of a day that began at 6 a.m. in Killeen and included stops in Waco, Temple and Eastland before Abilene. If O’Rourke was tired, he showed no evidence as he bounded up the stairs for a quick press conference before meeting with the crowd in the main hall.

“I’m more energized that I’ve ever been in my life,” he told the crowd. “It defies physics. This is what drives me.”

While his opponent may be a lightning rod for Democrats, O’Rourke rarely referred to him and only once called him by name, referring to the “junior sitting senator.” When he mentioned Cruz, it was usually to point out how he has outraised Cruz in campaign contributions despite not taking any money from political action committees.

"You will never have to wonder who I’m working for,” he said. “Our average contribution is $25.”

And while he is careful to talk about polling and claims to eschew those numbers, he did refer to a Quinnipac poll that showed the race within the margin of error with Cruz leading.

“The headline said ‘Texas Senate race too close to call,’” he said “It shows and reflects that we can win.”

That line drew rousing applause from the crowd, as he also received when he talked about immigration, public education and gun safety.

On immigration, O’Rourke said deporting the dreamers, whom he said knew only the U.S. as their home, not only was a violation of American values, but wasn’t a good return on the investment on the youth’s education. As he often did, O’Rourke used an anecdote from the campaign.

“Booker (in the Panhandle) is about as far away from Mexico as you can be and still be in Texas,” said O’Rourke. “Their valedictorian was deported. The investment they made in his education won’t benefit them. It will benefit the country he’s going to. The people in Booker understand that.

"What if we wrote our immigration laws in our image, that reflect our values in Texas?”

Win or lose, O’Rourke said his only ambition is the U.S. Senate, even if his name does pop up on some short lists for 2020.

“I’m only working for Texas,” he said. “But, thanks for asking.”

Democratic runoff

Voting begins Monday in the Democratic primary runoff for governor.

Voters will choose between Andrew White and Lupe Valdez.

It's the only race on the ballot.

Early voting is scheduled from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday to Friday at the Taylor County Plaza, 400 Oak St.