Journalists just cannot contain their excitement over Beto O'Rourke and the possibility of turning Texas into a Democratic stronghold. Despite the fact that O'Rourke has NEVER LED in a single Real Clear Politics poll, reporters have decided this is the year. Appearing on Nightline, Monday, ABC News political director Rick Klein enthused: “The idea that Texas is ripe for the picking, it's powered by the growing minority population, the growing young voter population.”
He declared, “It's almost inevitable that Texas ultimately turns blue. The question is did Beto O'Rourke find this moment?” Remember how excited media outlets were over abortion-supporting Democrat Wendy Davis in 2014? (She lost by over 20 points.)
Yet, Klein pushed the idea that change is finally, almost here: “Texas is a deeply red state, but it's changing and changing fast. It sits there as a big, red target for Democrats. They recognize that if they can start to flip Texas, it changes the entire nationwide electoral map.”
Some reality here: Cruz has an almost seven point lead, according to the Real Clear Politics average. To the extent that Cruz is struggling, it’s likely has more to do with struggles with likability and his opposition to Trump in 2016. If Texas is turning blue, why is Governor Greg Abbott cruising to a reelection victory with a 20 point lead?
Also, not reported in the Nightline story was the fact that Cruz did well with Hispanics in his 2012 Senate campaign.
On Sunday, ABC reporter Paula Faris gushed over Democrat O’Rourke: “You’re a rock star!” On Monday’s Nightline, she couldn’t contain her excitement: “With early voting beginning today, the stakes are only getting higher as we wait to find out if this red state will turn blue.”
A partial transcript is below. Click “expand” to read more:
ABC's Nightline
10/23/18
12:42 a.m. EasternDAN HARRIS: Tonight, despite a truly nasty history between the two of them, President Trump is now going to bat for Republican senator Ted Cruz in the lone star state and here's ABC's Paula Faris.
(....)
PAULA FARIS: He's [Trump] come to Texas, a longtime Republican stronghold —
DONALD TRUMP: Vote for Ted Cruz.
FARIS: — To shore up support in a state where Democrats seem to be gaining ground.
(....)
12:44 a.m. Eastern
RICK KLEIN [ABC News political director]: Texas is a deeply red state, but it's changing and changing fast. It sits there as a big red target for Democrats. They recognize that if they can start to flip Texas, it changes the entire nationwide electoral map.
(....)
12:48 a.m. Eastern
BETO O’ROURKE: I’m going to do my best to stay focused on the future.
FARIS: And part of that focus is in attracting minority voters.
SARAH PEEBLES (Beto O’Rourke supporter): I look at Beto O'rourke, and it seems like he has a feel and a love and a need to help all people, not just a select group.
ANA DE LA ROSA (O’Rourke supporter): As a first generation Mexican, Mexican-American now, a mother and a teacher, he stands for the values that I stand for.
KLEIN: The idea that Texas is ripe for the picking, it's powered by the growing minority population, the growing young voter population. It's almost inevitable that Texas ultimately turns blue. The question is did Beto O'Rourke find this moment?
(....)
FARIS: With early voting beginning today, the stakes are only getting higher as we wait to find out if this red state will turn blue. For Nightline, I'm Paula Faris in Dallas.
