Sean Hannity and Ted Cruz rail against Beto O'Rourke at Houston rally

U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz got some support on the campaign trail Saturday with Fox News personality Sean Hannity and former Gov. Rick Perry joining him in a Houston rally. Cruz faces Democratic Rep. Beto O'Rourke in the midterm election. less U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz got some support on the campaign trail Saturday with Fox News personality Sean Hannity and former Gov. Rick Perry joining him in a Houston rally. Cruz faces Democratic Rep. Beto O'Rourke in ... more Photo: Metro Video Photo: Metro Video Image 1 of / 15 Caption Close Sean Hannity and Ted Cruz rail against Beto O'Rourke at Houston rally 1 / 15 Back to Gallery

Fox News host Sean Hannity and former Gov. Rick Perry unloaded on Democratic Rep. Beto O'Rourke and national Democrats Saturday at a rally here for Sen. Ted Cruz, with the senator also taking the stage to continue framing his race as one with clear ideological choices.

During his red meat-heavy stump speech, Hannity adopted a nickname for O'Rourke – Bozo – and accused Democrats of lacking a plan "to help the forgotten men and women in this country."

"They want to go backwards into the failed policies of [Barack] Obama," Hannity told a packed crowd in the ballroom of the Hilton DoubleTree hotel on East Greenway Plaza. "They are hiding what they really want to do: They want to impeach Donald Trump. Beto, Bozo, wants to do it himself."

Ahead of Cruz's Monday rally here with Trump, Hannity lauded the two Republicans for passing "the biggest tax cut in American history."

"Bozo wants the crumbs back," Hannity said, alluding to Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi's characterization of tax bill bonuses. "I say that money belongs in your pocket."

Perry, the U.S. Energy secretary who served as Texas governor for 14 years, predicted Cruz would beat O'Rourke by "a substantial margin" thanks in part to the state's booming oil and gas industry. He played up Cruz's relationship with Trump, calling Cruz "one of the powerful influences on this president."

Perry also cast Cruz's election against O'Rourke as a "pivotal" moment in Texas' history, and took a couple shots at the El Paso congressman.

"Robert Francis O'Rourke thinks that because he's got a Hispanic nickname, he's gonna get the Hispanic vote," Perry said. "Ain't gonna happen, Robert."

Cruz stumped for about half an hour to close out the hour-long rally, focusing mostly on widening the contrast between himself and O'Rourke. He hit many of the same notes from prior rallies — including on immigration, judicial appointments and regulations — and newly announced he was "proud" that the Houston Chronicle editorial board had endorsed O'Rourke.

"There is a caravan marching north right now," Cruz said at one point. "I'm just waiting to see Beto O'Rourke come down and start leading the caravan."

Upon taking the stage, Cruz — who once had a stormy relationship with Hannity — commended the radio and TV host for "stepping forward and battling political correctness," "the forces of socialism," "open borders" and "stupidity."

From Houston, Hannity and Cruz are traveling to Beaumont, where they will hold another rally at 3:30 p.m. O'Rourke this weekend is holding events near Corpus Christi and in Dallas-Fort Worth before heading to the Houston area.