I won't be supporting Beto in the primaries

[struggle4progress]

I was really sorry he didn't beat Cruz in Senate race

But I think there was reasons for that loss -- and one reason is simply that Beto just isn't sophisticated enough as a campaigner

The learning curve here is very steep, and I believe there's no chance he can learn quickly enough to do well in November 2020
0

[True Dough]

2. Do you care to specify?

I've also lost some of my enthusiasm for Beto, and I'm having a hard time putting my finger on it. Again, as we always have to qualify, he or ANY other Dem candidate would be exponentially better than Trump.

When I read your words: "not sophisticated enough" and "no chance he can learn quickly enough to do well," I'm left wondering what specifically you're referring to.

[bearsfootball516]

3. Beto came within a few points of winning what was one of the safest Senate seats in the country

In one of the most traditionally Republican states in the nation. His campaigning style is literally what got him so close.

You may not like him, but nothing you said was accurate.

[EveHammond13]

5. let's not forget the voting machines were flipping votes to Cruz because of a

"software error"

[doc03]

27. Yes but Cruz is the most hated man in congress. nt

[Sunlei]

29. consider this, Cruz beat Trump soundly in Rep primary! yet Beto lost by only 3%

Beto lost to a man very popular in Texas! I'm in Houston, I voted for Beto, his campaign called me three times- they did an awesome job.

Beto only lost because Republicans managed to disenfranchise/gerrymander a very slim couple percent of D voters....

disenfranchised D voter I personally know was scammed. Someone registered him in another Texas county, he only found out when he went in to vote & he was turned away.
I checked the public rolls today just to see if he took my & the polling station Judges advice to please re-register!. He didn't re- register, still on public list in the wrong county and listed as an active voter! That means someone used his vote, there is fraud happening!

[bearsfootball516]

38. Doesn't matter in Texas, where Republicans will vote for a dead fish over a Democrat.

[Cha]

39. Thank You! That talking point

they have that Beto couldn't beat cruz does Not hold water.

[leftofcool]

4. Okay

[Cha]

40. lol. I was expecting

some profound reason. But, that one doesn't fly.

[peggysue2]

6. A decision that is . . .

absolutely your prerogative as it is for every voter. Which is why we have primaries to sort these people out, listen to them and finally judge who would be the best candidate to repudiate Trump and his toxic brand of politics.

In the end, that's what we must all do.

[Renew Deal]

7. He would be senator for life if he ran in California or Vermont

Harris and Sanders winning in those states doesn’t suddenly make them “sophisticated.” He beat the electoral math in TX.

[SFnomad]

8. I live in Texas ... Rafael Cruz was sweating bullets and the RepubliCONs were pouring money

into Texas to keep a safe seat red. Beto didn't get to within a hair of becoming Senator O'Rourke because he wasn't "sophisticated enough". Hell, at one point Rafael Cruz was attacking Beto for using a nickname "to fit in". It seriously got that bad for Rafael.

[Gothmog]

42. This was a mid term year and Beto still made it close

Beto could put Texas into play

Link to tweet

[SFnomad]

44. I think that's something people aren't considering enough of

Can Beto flip Texas? I'm not sure Texas is purple enough to get there, yet. I really think it's going to take another 4-8 years. If he could, then the Presidency is a pretty much a lock. But even if he can't, Republicans are going to have to pour lots of money into Texas, again, a state that should be solid enough red. And that money then isn't going elsewhere, weakening the Republicans.

If Beto doesn't get the nomination, whoever does, should seriously look at Beto for VP. Eight years from now, could be all Beto at that point and I have no doubt he could flip Texas by then.

[Squinch]

9. Love him and hope to have a chance to vote for him in the future. But this time I have

different priorities.

That being said, if he wins the Primary, I will joyfully vote for him in the General.

[madville]

10. He had a major advantage in TX against Cruz

The entire Democratic Party was behind him, tons of cash from all over the country, and a large part of the media praising him. Plus he was running against the one of the most unlikable people in US government.

That's not the way it works in the primary. Fundraising will be harder, the scrutiny is going to increase by multiples, Democrats and their operatives will be digging for dirt and attacking him, it's really a whole new ball game. He'll have about 1/10 the party support in the primary that he enjoyed in his Senate run.

He definitely needs some polishing as far responding to questions with actual answers and he has already spent his first two days on the campaign trail apologizing, not a good start.

Does he have a website yet with an actual platform? I tried google but couldn't find anything. You can't run on vague statements long before people and the media either dismiss you or they really start needling with pointed questions.

[True Dough]

11. Now this is a good post

Some may not consider it welcomed reading, but you raise some valid points. Thanks.

[cwydro]

16. Good points. nt

[marylandblue]

17. I don't like that he's starting out apologizing either.

He shouldn't apologize for writing bad fiction as a teenager. I'd rather he just acknowledge it and turn it into some kind of positive or push back.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

25. Well said.

[WeekiWater]

12. I'm looking forward to watching him. NT

[INdemo]

13. I think he lost because Cruz gave polling data to the Russians and

they were once again able hack into the vote tallies

[RestoreAmerica2020]

14. Agreed. I pointed out same to my father who disagreed bc Texas has 34 electoral votes

... he added--we need Texas to win in 2020. Of course father knows best, so we left it at that and he went on to finish his morning walk.

Frankly, given how close the senate race was against Cruz, O'Rourke should go against Cornyn in 2020 b/c we also need to take the Senate. Haven't searched if he is even qualified to run in same district, yet read that Rep. Castro (D-TX) has decided to run against Cornyn--which is great but do we really want to risk a House seat?

[chimpymustgo]

15. Yes. O'Rourke should take on Cornyn.

I'm a little disturbed by his heading to the front of the line. We have a battle ahead to reclaim our country and need our Dems to serve where they are most needed.

[RLG]

19. "I'm a little disturbed by his heading to the front of the line"

This is a free country. Why shouldn't he run for president?

Did you feel this way in 2008 when Obama allegedly "head to the front of the line" and ran for president?

He sees an opportunity. Why not go for it?

[Laura PourMeADrink]

22. Castro is

[Hoyt]

28. Yep. And if I studied Castro and O'Rourke, I bet I'd end up supporting Castro.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

30. They are very different, for sure. If Castro could only amp up some energy...

[SFnomad]

45. Rafael isn't that well liked, even in Texas. Cornyn, even though he's an ass too, is liked

a lot more. I think Beto would be wasting his time running for Senate again and would end up with another loss. And that would not look good as a track record.

Beto is doing the right thing for Beto, which is no different than any of the other candidates.

[MFM008]

18. I am willing to

Listen to all our candidates.

[Luciferous]

20. He seems to be a bit of a mess. He didn't even have a good answer for why he was running!

[Tipperary]

21. Sure he did! He was "born to it." Lol.

Everything I have read about him does not impress me. A father of three and a husband goes into a “funk” and disappears from his family to go walkabout?

[Luciferous]

24. Yeah he seems a bit too flaky

[Laura PourMeADrink]

23. I don't think you can count on Beto climbing up any kind of learning curve

He is a different kind of candidate than we may have ever seen. He speaks from his heart. He didn’t even have a pollster in Texas race. He absolutely campaigns FOR something and not against someone else. And that is his sole strategy. Now, can it work nationwide? Or will he be eaten up alive. Only time will tell. In Texas, Cruz didn’t really come after him. He just stayed low. What killed his chance was that Cruz unleashed the Facebook smear machine close to election. And thousands of low-infos spread the crap everywhere.

[Sunlei]

35. Beto came 3%close to beating the man who beat the crap! out of Trump in 2016Rprimary

Texas Republican primary results 2016

Ted Cruz 1,241,118 43.76%
Donald Trump 758,762 26.75%

Beto would do ok nationally.

[Awsi Dooger]

26. I can't take anyone seriously who references the loss in Texas

These states are not fish in a bowl, flowing around and heading anywhere they want. There are extremely rigid mathematical realities that dictate outcomes from state to state, and especially in a federal race like senate.

Many of our others candidates would have lost that Texas senate race by double digits or nearby. Cruz had a positive 50-48 approval rating in the exit poll. We've got geniuses here who continue to insist he was incredibly unpopular and Beto should have cruised.

I realize I can't win with arguments like this. Far more comfortable to claim the only way we lose in 2020 is X, Y, or Z. Meanwhile we are very likely to lose unless we choose wisely. This is an incumbent with positive economic numbers. That combination tends to overwhelm anything else, whether we care to accept it or not. Maybe we'll feel great about ourselves if we nominate someone who can spit out one policy after another, as swing voters don't care and find the person steadily unlikable. We have numerous options who fit.

[NurseJackie]

31. Neither can I

I'm clicking the "trash" button for this trash thread. It's absurd.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

36. It's like saying Oscar De La Hoya is garbage because he couldn't beat Floyd Mayweather.

[50 Shades Of Blue]

32. +1

[Sunlei]

33. as long as when the General election comes please vote for the D & not a spoiler.

[struggle4progress]

34. I really want a D in the White House and Ds controlling Congress

The present situation is ghastly

[Sunlei]

37. Ds do have Congress now and if Ds turnout in 2020 we'll sweep all the R crap out

Ds are fortunate we have several, Beto included who would be good, honest, hardworking Presidents. With plenty of good experienced aides & administration help.

[struggle4progress]

43. No -- Ds have the House but not the Senate

[Gothmog]

41. I strongtly disagree

Here is a good explanation

Link to tweet