MOUNT CLEMENS, Mich. — A day after a solid but unspectacular debate performance, Beto O'Rourke went mining for votes in Donald Trump country, telling voters he could defeat the incumbent president and help the area become more prosperous.

O'Rourke had lunch with 10 people at John's Family Grill in Macomb County, an area Trump won in 2016 en route to winning Michigan and the White House. The county also voted to elect former President Barack Obama, indicating that something went wrong with Democratic Party outreach there as the Obama era ended.

O'Rourke, the former El Paso congressman, said he would push for better education and more economic development. Specifically, O'Rourke said Macomb County residents needed access to capital so they could start and develop small businesses.

And he cast himself as the best choice to beat Trump.

"I want their support, and I want to earn it," O'Rourke said. "I'll do so by showing up and listening to them and reflecting their stories in the campaign I'm running."

Democratic presidential candidate Beto O'Rourke talks to a potential voter at John's Family Grill in Mount Clemens, Mich. (Gromer Jeffers Jr. / Staff)

The undecided voters who attended the luncheon said they appreciated O'Rourke's visit.

"He's very interesting, and I like his passion on issues like education and health care," said Diana Wheatley-Hagemann, a 57-year-old social worker who lives in Mount Clemens. "He's broke into my top five."

Nick Marinello, a 37-year-old high school teacher from St. Clair Shores, said O'Rourke has policy to back up his passion.

"He speaks to an optimism that's lacking in the Democratic Party," he said. "He also backs that up with policy proposals. I appreciate him talking to us about the issues."

Marinello said, "at this point it's wide open."

Not everyone in the county is an O'Rourke fan.

Outside the restaurant, a man wearing a red "Make America Great Again" cap heckled O'Rourke from his sedan.

"Beto, that's all you can muster," he asked. "You can't beat the Trumpster."

But Carrie Leto, a teacher, said she likes that O'Rourke wants to improve education.

"He's very personable and easy to talk to," she said.

O'Rourke, who is headed to Nevada, told voters in Michigan that his campaign will work because of its broad appeal.

"I'm not writing anybody off. I'm not writing any part of the Democratic Party off. I'm not writing any other political parties off," O'Rourke said. "I'm showing us that there's a way, in a very divided moment, to include everyone in the future of this country. I'm confident that's the way to beat Trump."