The Texas Stop
President Trump hit the ground running in Texas on Thursday. He was there to rally support for Ken Paxton. The goal was clear: secure the Senate seat. Trump described the candidate as a “pain in the a–” but said he needed him badly. We need Ken so badly, that’s why I am here, he told the crowd. The President kicked off a red state tour to help Republican candidates before November. He knows Texas is critical for keeping Senate control. The state has long been a GOP stronghold, but the race is now a toss-up.
Trucks and Jobs
The tour included a stop at Peterbilt Motors in Denton. Trump touted his trade agenda and economic wins there. According to reports, tariffs on trucks from the Trump period stimulated employment expansion. He pointed to the numbers on the factory floor. He stated that 60,000 new manufacturing jobs were added by the United States this year. He noted that heavy truck manufacturing is up by about 31 percent. From Dallas, he headed to Oklahoma to back Mike Mazzei. Next week, he plans to campaign for Bruce Blakeman in upstate New York. The message was simple: Republicans must sell their wins better. Trump acknowledged that while public relations work was poor, management performance was excellent, despite critics claiming otherwise.
The Money and The Race
Over $300 million has been utilized by Republicans to support Paxton. Democrats are hoping to flip the seat. Federal records indicate the Texas PAC contributed $131 million in assistance to the attorney general. The Cook Political Report rates the race as a toss-up. Paxton faces a tough challenge from Democrat James Talarico. Polls show the race is tight for either party. Voter discontent regarding the economy is what Democrats expect to leverage. They hope high gas prices will help them capture the seat. In 1988, Lloyd Bentsen became the final Democrat chosen for the Senate by Texas voters. Trump called the opponent a “freak” who would be a horror to the country. How could anyone support the other candidate when we fully support Ken. he asked.
Private Worries
Despite the public push, there are private concerns. Ken Paxton privately said Trump’s Dallas midterm convention damaged his standing. The Washington Times reported this private comment. Trump remains confident, however. We need the votes, and I’m here for that, and I think we’re going to win, he said. He noted that every place he has gone, they win. During the primary, the President backed Paxton against the sitting GOP Senator, John Cornyn. This ensured Paxton the nomination. Trump described the state attorney general as “one of the most loyal people.” The battle for the seat continues to heat up as the election nears.
