O'Rourke ends presidential bid

[left-of-center2012]

Former Rep. Beto O’Rourke (D-Texas) announced Friday that he would end his presidential bid.

In a post on the website Medium, O’Rourke said that it had become clear that he does not have the means to keep his campaign afloat.

“Though it is difficult to accept, it is clear to me now that this campaign does not have the means to move forward successfully,” O’Rourke wrote.

“My service to the country will not be as a candidate or as the nominee. Acknowledging this now is in the best interests of those in the campaign; it is in the best interests of this party as we seek to unify around a nominee; and it is in the best interests of the country.”

https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/468618-orourke-ends-presidential-bid

[left-of-center2012]

1. What was Beto thinking?

He was campaigning in Alabama and CT
when the action was in Iowa and NH.

[SCantiGOP]

2. Maybe, he was campaigning for VP

[CTyankee]

39. No, we need a person of color to run with Warren. That's Cory Booker.

I like the thought of that: President Warren and Vice President Booker.

Getting used to saying and thinking that.

[Baltimike]

3. He'd make a great vp pick...I am not counting him out. nt

[left-of-center2012]

4. no

[Baltimike]

9. yes

[cwydro]

11. No way. Exactly.

I’m thinking his rich dad-in-law pulled the plug.

No more $$ for a losing campaign.

[customerserviceguy]

30. Agreed

His gun statements make him toxic in much of the country.

[tritsofme]

12. I have a hard time believing he is on anyone's VP short list.

Given his new positions on guns and churches.

[maximusveritas]

16. Exactly, would bring way more negatives than he could possibly help

His best hope is to get a cabinet position

[tritsofme]

21. He's not really qualified for any of the big cabinet spots.

AG, Defense, State, DHS. I don’t know what’s next for him...

He’s dug himself quite a hole, he should have dropped out months ago before he took such a needlessly strange turn.

[maximusveritas]

40. Well he's as qualified as anyone serving in Trump's cabinet.

I know we want to have higher standards, but I'm not sure what else he could do other than move to a blue state and run again in a couple cycles.

[tritsofme]

41. Cabinet positions aren't consolation prizes. He's made his choices

His political career might just be over.

[Blue_true]

33. I don't think so for several reasons. nt

[SCVDem]

5. I am not sure if Beto thought he had a chance.

He did use the platform to raise many issues and different viewpoints to an extreme at times.

Yes, we will take your guns for example.

Best of luck taking Texas BLUE Beto!

Buenos Suerte!

[left-of-center2012]

7. "we will take your guns for example"

And then he said,
well,
you can keep them if you only use them at the gun club.

Hell yeah ??

[SCVDem]

8. I never heard the addendum

I don't care if you keep a bazooka, at the range!

[left-of-center2012]

13. here

Beto O'Rourke 'open to the idea' of letting people use AR-15s, AK-47s at hunting clubs, gun ranges

Democratic presidential candidate Beto O'Rourke said Friday he was open to allowing people to use assault-style weapons like AR-15s and AK-47s at gun ranges and hunting clubs, despite his plan to ban the weapons' purchase and to require owners of existing weapons to sell them to the government.

https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/elections/presidential/candidates/2019/10/25/election-2019-democrat-beto-orourke-open-idea-letting-some-keep-ar-15-s-ak-47-s-hunting-clubs-gun-ra/2456493001/

[SCVDem]

18. I've seen vids

I think from Oklahoma, where if you can afford the ammo, you can shoot everything from mini-guns, 50 Cals,
and I think they even have tanks.

Expensive hobby but, it stays at the range!!!

Can we get a majority approval?

[Blue_true]

34. People do keep real canons at some gun ranges.

Doesn't bother me at all. As long as they don't threaten people with them.

[evertonfc]

6. He was my first choice

For those of us looking for a new generation of leadership, this is to bad but it is what it is. He was fearless

[MyOwnPeace]

10. I'd still like

him to go for a Senate seat from Texas.
Him winning that would send a hell of a message and give him a fantastic platform from which to build his national standing and political future.

[RLG]

14. There are several candidates running.

I think his political future was usurped by Buttigieg and others.

[cwydro]

17. You might want to look up the definition of "usurped."

Good grief.

[SCVDem]

19. Saw that!

Agree!

[tritsofme]

23. The positions he's taken during this presidential bid have likely left him unviable

as a statewide candidate in Texas, almost anyone running is probably better at this point.

It truly is a shame, a few months ago he would have clearly had the best shot at that Senate seat, but he chose instead an increasingly quixotic and potentially career ending presidential campaign. What was the point?

[Blue_true]

35. My guess is he runs for Mayor of his city, rebuild his political career,

then run for Congress again.

[NurseJackie]

15. This is just the beginning... he has a VERY bright future in the Democratic party.

I look forward to seeing what he does next.

[Peacetrain]

20. You are young, and have a bright future ahead of you Beto!!!

We will see you again.. that is for sure

[aikoaiko]

22. Its shocking that promising to take people's rifles away didn't save his campaign.

Shocking. Shocking I tell you.

[Devil Child]

24. Shocking that people refuse to acknowledge how significant this was in ending his campaign

[Tipperary]

36. He was sinking long before that.

I think jumping on the gun issue was his last hope. Bad decision. I hope he also learns that those Facebook dentist, barber, skateboarding, etc. videos are really not a good idea.

[left-of-center2012]

25. "Hell yeah !"

[aikoaiko]

26. "Hey yeah!" And I'm out.

[IndyinVirginny]

27. Beto's

Beto's overreach on guns was a bit too much

[Eliot Rosewater]

31. Uh huh

[Devil Child]

37. Agreed n/t

[left-of-center2012]

28. I think his swearing turned off some voters

in my humble opinion

[Turin_C3PO]

29. Maybe,

but it was warranted, IMO. There’s a time and place for swearing. Anger expressed after a gun massacre is one of those times.

[Blue_true]

32. I wish others that are polling where he was makes the same decision. nt

[Joe941]

38. His gun confiscation hurt him a lot.

Sad but true. Someday we will get there, but not today.