Democrat James Talarico targets Elon Musk at rally: ‘Texas is not for sale’

Talarico has offset the outside-spending disadvantage with grassroots fundraising. His campaign says it raised $64m from July through September, more than triple Paxton’s total, with 97% of donations under $100 each.

Talarico told the crowd that super PACs and “billionaire mega-donors” are spending $200m in the most expensive Senate race in US history to defeat his grassroots campaign. “Big money is powerful, but it is nothing compared to people power,” he insisted, invoking biblical imagery comparing his supporters to “the slingshot” that David used to defeat Goliath

Talarico’s rally capped a turbulent month in what has emerged as America’s biggest battleground state. Talarico fell ill with the flu at the end of September and was not seen in public for nine days.

At a rally in San Antonio, Texas, Donald Trump claimed without evidence that “Tala-freako”, as he nicknames the Democrat, is vegan and had fallen ill because he tried eating meat for political purposes. That quickly metastasised into an online rumour that Talarico had checked into a mental health facility in Ohio. It was comprehensively debunked.

Meanwhile the Wall Street Journal published a video showing Paxton celebrating New Year’s Eve in Dubai with two US fugitives, Anosh Ahmed and Sameer Suhail, who were indicted in Illinois on healthcare-fraud charges. Ahmed donated $190,000 to Paxton, including $25,000 after his indictment.

Back on the campaign trail, Talarico set out on a “Clear Eyes, Full Hearts” tour of the state. He held a CNN town hall with sceptical Republicans and independent voters.

Paxton, meanwhile, launched an 18-day bus tour of Texas. His message was aimed at conservative voters with the slogan “Come and Take It”, an attack on what he called the far left. Republicans sought to tie Talarico with positions on transgender issues that have proved potent in conservative campaigning.

The campaign entered its final stretch with the Democrat holding a narrow polling advantage. The RealClearPolitics average for polls conducted from 6 to 19 October put Talarico ahead by 1.8 percentage points. An Emerson College Polling/ Nexstar Media survey released on Thursday found that 48% of voters support Talarico while 46% favour Paxton.

Early voting began on 19 October, giving both campaigns an immediate test of their ability to mobilise supporters. Talarico voted earlier on Friday.

Supporters at Friday’s rally expressed growing frustration with incumbent Republican officials such as Paxton along with optimism that Talarico’s message could signal a new political era for the Lone Star State.

Alina Anil, a 19-year-old student at the University of Texas, who had already cast her ballot, said she attended the event to see Talarico in person and demonstrate her support.

“We’ve been red for a long time and nothing has really come out of it,” Anil said. “As a student, I don’t think there’s been a lot of changes in Texas. We need some change and James Talarico seems promising. He was a teacher before, so I have faith in that and I have faith in him.”

Dakota Walker, 31, a pediatric physical therapist, arrived wearing a custom T-shirt reading “Talafrico: Talarico refreshing for Texas”, in the style of the Topo-Chico brand of sparkling mineral water.

“What’s not to like about him, what’s not to love about him, honestly?” Walker said. “He has morals, he has values, he’s an overall good human being and I think we need a drastic change.

“I have to spend so much of my time fighting for my kids, making sure that they get what they need when a family with a child with a disability or different abilities shouldn’t have to do that. I know we need healthcare reform and he is very big on that.”

Texas Democrats have had their hopes dashed before, notably when former congressman Beto O’Rourke lost a race to Republican Sen. Ted Cruz in 2018 by less than 3 percentage points.

Asked what a Democratic statewide victory would mean, Walker replied: “Oh man, I’ll probably cry, honestly. We need a lot of change and I feel like it’s time for a new era.”

Patrick Pearson, 46, an assistive technology professional, said he wanted to back Talarico because of his commitment to policy change. “From everything I’ve read about him and heard, I think he sounds really awesome,” Pearson said. “He’s actually trying to make a change and has a very positive message.”

Kaynak: The Guardian · Özgün metin İngilizcedir.