O'Rourke is back on the campaign trail reinvigorated

[left-of-center2012]

O'Rourke is back with a focus on the president and the racial division he says Trump has stirred in the country. He mentions El Paso frequently; it's clear the shooting has become the the most important purpose of his campaign.

But O'Rourke's consistently trailed in early polls, struggled to articulate why he's running, and failed to have a breakout moment on the crowded debate stage. At times, his rhetoric can cloud his actual policy priorities. So, we asked him, if he had to prioritize one landmark bill, what would it be. "There is no one bill," he said, and then gave a long answer detailing his concerns about a range of issues from climate change to health care and immigration.

Pundits and voters agree that O'Rourke is not doing as well in this contest as they expected. As his odds have dimmed, the pressure on him to withdraw from the presidential race and instead run for the U.S. Senate has increased. Even some of his fervent fans from the 2018 race in Texas have suggested he should focus on mounting a challenge to Sen. John Cornyn, who will be up for reelection in 2020.

But O'Rourke dismisses that idea.
"I think I have a perspective that is important for this country at this moment," he said. “I want to serve this country as president.”

https://www.npr.org/2019/08/26/754478605/beto-orourke-reboots-his-presidential-campaign-with-a-focus-on-guns-and-trump