Beto O'Rourke, buoyed by stout fundraising and a surprisingly favorable poll, has a renewed belief in miracles.

More than ever before, the Democratic congressman from El Paso is talking like beating incumbent Sen. Ted Cruz is no longer a pipe dream.

"Who knows about polls these days," O'Rourke told The Dallas Morning News before a rally at the Rustic restaurant and bar Thursday night. "I hear everyone is skeptical of polls. I kind of feel that way myself, but if nothing else, it shows that this is possible."

This week a survey by Quinnipiac University showed O'Rourke trailing Cruz by only 3 percentage points, a ridiculous notion even a few weeks ago. Critics have questioned how the survey was conducted, but most analysts concede O'Rourke is running an effective campaign.

For the first three months of this year, O'Rourke raised $6.8 million, outpacing Cruz's $3.2 million haul.

"It is helping those who otherwise wouldn't allow themselves to believe in something for Texas and the country," O'Rourke said of the survey and his fundraising. "We've been getting a lot of love from people who said, 'I felt this.' ... It doesn't change anything we do, but it sure has helped a lot of people believe in something."

O'Rourke on Thursday began a two-day trip to North Texas, with town hall events planned Friday in the Republican stronghold of McKinney and the University of North Texas in Denton. The McKinney event is designed to have Democrats bring two or more Republicans with them.

O'Rourke spoke to hundreds of people at the Rustic for a "Beers with Beto" rally Thursday, stressing the theme of miracles.

At the beginning of his speech, O'Rourke revealed that he visited Dallas ISD trustee Miguel Solis' 8-week-old daughter, Olivia, who in Children's Medical Center with a heart ailment.

"She is thriving; she's doing better. Her cheeks are getting chubby," O'Rourke said, adding that the resolve of the Solis family is inspiring.

Inspired by the time we just spent with @TrusteeSolis, Jacqueline, and baby Olivia in Dallas. Please join me in keeping the strong and courageous Solis family in your thoughts. #LivStrong pic.twitter.com/sqkj1Zyk0T — Beto O'Rourke (@BetoORourke) April 19, 2018

O'Rourke also paid tribute to Victor Morales, the Crandall High School teacher who in 1996 drove thousands of miles across Texas in a white pickup to win the Democratic nomination for Senate. Morales, with little campaign cash, beat U.S. Rep. John Bryant of Dallas in a runoff before losing the general election to incumbent Republican Phil Gramm.

U.S. Senate candidate Beto O'Rourke meets with supporters before speaking at the Rustic in Dallas, April 19, 2018. (Ben Torres / Special Contributor)

Morales' campaign and his white truck captured national attention.

"That guy really did blaze the trail," O'Rourke said. "He really showed that this is possible."

Morales, who said he's become cynical about politics, said O'Rourke is the real deal.

"I told him my little truck is still running," he said. "I'm going to put a Beto sticker on the side."

Many people in the crowd had not heard of Morales, who made another run for Senate in 2002 but lost in a Democratic runoff to the former Dallas Mayor Ron Kirk, who then lost the general election to Republican John Cornyn.

But the crowd knew O'Rourke, who thrilled them as the beer and libations flowed.

O'Rourke urged supporters to join his movement, saying that Texas could lead the nation in providing health care, taking care of veterans, supporting teachers and public education, curbing gun violence and "rewriting immigration laws in our own image."

"This will either be the year that we lost it forever, or more likely, this will be the year that we get it back on track," he said. "Are you with me?"

Ted Cruz wrote that the Trump administration is "great fun to watch.” I don’t think that comment represents Texas. https://t.co/i19wfCp2CI — Beto O'Rourke (@BetoORourke) April 20, 2018

In the earlier interview with The News, O'Rourke dismissed Cruz's contentions that he was too liberal for Texas and that if conservatives turn out in November, the incumbent will be re-elected.

A Democrat hasn't won a statewide race in Texas since 1994. What's more, there are as many as 850,000 more Republican voters in the Texas electorate than Democrats. And with few independent voters, overcoming that gap means changing the minds of some conservatives, a difficult task in the Lone Star State.

U.S. Senate candidate Beto O'Rourke signs a message to a supporter that reads, "Dear Karen, keep the faith," after he spoke to supporters at the Rustic in Dallas as he kicks off a North Texas tour April 19, 2018. (Ben Torres / Special Contributor)

O'Rourke is undaunted, even though Republican voters support Cruz's stance on issues like immigration and the Affordable Care Act.

"I just don't think there's any liberal or conservative value in these issues," he said of his legislative goals. "People are sick of the name-calling. I'll never castigate Republicans or name-call folks. It's just not what people talk about at my events."

Throughout his campaign, O'Rourke has held several social events at North Texas watering holes.

"This is truly what democracy should be about, drinking beer, listening to music, being engaged with one another in the future of this country, and this community and state," he said at the Rustic. "We're all here together in the same boat under this beautiful sky."