Joe Biden on Wednesday continued to make a play for Texas votes and campaign cash, an effort that could thwart the Lone Star contenders Beto O'Rourke and Julian Castro.

The former vice president held a fundraiser in Highland Park before meeting with students at South Side on Lamar.

And he collected the endorsement of Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings, who hosted the town hall meeting with students from the Mayor's Intern Fellows Program at SPARK, a non-profit group that boosts children.

Biden's message was clear. He's the best choice to defeat President Donald Trump.

"We have to restore the soul of America," Biden said at the home of Dallas lawyer and political donor Russell Budd.

"We need everybody back in," he said. "My record shows I've been able to bring people together."

The fundraiser featured some of North Texas' biggest Democratic Party donors, including Lisa Blue Baron, Peter Kraus and Marc Stanley.

Biden did not comment on special counsel Robert Mueller's remarks Wednesday about the Russia investigation, but a statement was released to various media outlets as he spoke in Dallas.

"Vice President Biden agrees with Speaker [Nancy] Pelosi that no one would relish what would certainly be a divisive impeachment process, but that it may be unavoidable if this Administration continues on its path," the statement said.

Biden camp statement: "Vice President Biden agrees with Speaker Pelosi that no one would relish what would certainly be a divisive impeachment process, but that it may be unavoidable if this Administration continues on its path." pic.twitter.com/QvZ9qtvvoH — Gideon Resnick (@GideonResnick) May 29, 2019

Biden, on a two-day swing through Texas, is the clear front-runner for the Democratic Party nomination for president. His Dallas trip signals that he'll, at the least, draw fundraising dollars from Texas, the home of O'Rourke and Castro, his rivals in the Democratic race for president.

O'Rourke, the former congressman from El Paso, has a immigration town hall meeting in Dallas Thursday. Castro, the former San Antonio mayor, hopes to make the Lone Star State part of his path to winning the nomination.

1 / 4Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden (left) shakes hands with Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings as he is introduced to speak to participants in the Dallas Mayor's Intern Fellows Program as during a campaign event at SPARK! on Wednesday, May 29, 2019, in Dallas.(Smiley N. Pool / Staff Photographer) 2 / 4Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden speaks to participants in the Dallas Mayor's Intern Fellows Program as Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings looks on during a campaign event at SPARK! on Wednesday, May 29, 2019, in Dallas.(Smiley N. Pool / Staff Photographer) 3 / 4Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden walks down a staircase as he is introduced before speaking to participants in the Dallas Mayor's Intern Fellows Program during a campaign event at SPARK! on Wednesday, May 29, 2019, in Dallas.(Smiley N. Pool / Staff Photographer) 4 / 4Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden (facing) shakes hands with Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings after speaking to participants in the Dallas Mayor's Intern Fellows Program as during a campaign event at SPARK! on Wednesday, May 29, 2019, in Dallas.(Smiley N. Pool / Staff Photographer)

Biden's visit — his first to Texas as a presidential candidate — suggests the March 2020 Texas primaries will be competitive, as other presidential candidates have visited the state.

"The delegates are allocated proportionally, therefore Biden doesn't have to win Texas to garner a significant number of delegates," said Mark Jones, a political scientist from Rice University. "Biden doesn't have to win here; he just has to place or show."

Texas support

In Dallas, Biden courted some of the most prolific Democratic Party donors in the country, including Budd.

"They believe that he's been tested," Budd said before introducing Biden. "They believe he'll bring dignity to the office."

Rawlings, the Dallas mayor, is backing Biden for president, saying the nation needs someone who will beat Trump in 2020. His endorsement is a snub of fellow Texans O'Rourke and Castro.

"Job No. 1 is to make sure Donald Trump is not president for four more years," Rawlings told The Dallas Morning News in an exclusive interview. "Joe Biden is the candidate I know will beat him."

Rawlings said he likes Biden's stand on education.

"Closing the gap between the haves and the have-nots is tops on his agenda," Rawlings said. "That's right up my alley."

State Sen. Royce West, D-Dallas, said Biden built solid relationships in the Senate and as vice president under President Barack Obama.

"He has the credentials and a resume that rivals any other Democrat," said West, who has not endorsed a candidate. "He starts out ahead of pack, but it's a long way to go."

Biden acknowledged that the contest is far from over.

"This is a marathon," he said.