"Every indication we have, we're gonna win Tarrant County," Abbott strategist Dave Carney says. He adds they "feel very good" about Tarrant, but "it's competitive, not trying to slough if off, it's going to be a battle." #TXGOV
Carney says they feel "spectacularly positive" about South Texas. On the three targeted congressional races, he says: "We can win all three of them today. They're all within victory." #TXGOV#TX15#TX28#TX34
Asked if this is Abbott's toughest race ever, Carney says no, @wendydavis was tougher. He cites energy/profile of Davis before "incompetence" engulfed her campaign. "Beto's a known quantity, and he loves to talk," plus his faves have been upside down the entire time.
Carney says he doesn't think "our input was solicited" on Trump rally Saturday in Robstown. "But any time the president can travel and rile up the base ... it's a good thing." Rs are happier Trump's coming than Ds are "fearing that Biden may accidentally stop by the state."
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.@BetoORourke tries to confront @GregAbbott_TX after he speaks at Uvalde presser, walking up to the stage and telling him he’s “doing nothing” on gun violence
O’Rourke is eventually escorted away as some of the GOP officials onstage denounce him for interrupting
"Sit down and don't play this stunt," @TedCruz told O'Rourke, it sounded like.
Another man onstage called O'Rourke a "sick son of a bitch" for crashing the presser.
.@RepCuellar just spoke with reporters at his campaign HQ in Laredo. He reminded that he won his first race by a narrower margin. "I know what it is to do a recount in an election contest. We have very good attorneys, and if we need to, we will defend our election victory." #TX28
(1/2) Does a close race give you any pause about your politics/legislating?
Cuellar: I've always said "you just can't go w/ the wind. ... In my opinion, the Dem. Party has gone a little bit to the left in many ways. I want to stay true to my principles ... to my community."
(2/2) Cuellar acknowledged there are some areas that "don't know me that well," appearing to reference parts of San Antonio, where Cisneros dominated.
"I need to go spend time in the areas that need to get to know me better," he said. "But I'm gonna stay true to the principles."
O'Rourke, who had some standout votes on Russia in Congress that Abbott's criticized, says in Austin: "Whatever problems I've had w/ prev. admins. & our foreign policy in Europe, all of that ends for me ... right now given the crisis that we face." I "fully back" ppl of Ukraine.
"I support our president in making sure that this country does everything that it can, incl. convening our partners w/in our alliance in NATO, to give Ukraine … the support that they need to be able to hold these invaders at bay for as long as it takes to ultimately repel them."
BREAKING: Van Taylor is suspending his reelection campaign after he was forced into a primary runoff last night. He faced last-minute allegations of infidelity.
Taylor emails supporters: "About a year ago, I made a horrible mistake that has caused deep hurt and pain among those I love most in this world. I had an affair, it was wrong, and it was the greatest failure of my life."
Taylor, cont'd.: "I want to apologize for the pain I have caused with my indiscretion, most of all to my wife Anne and our three daughters."
Abbott strategist @granitewinger debriefs with reporters, predicting "known-down, drag-out fight" against @BetoORourke. He says Abbott will spend more than $100M.
"We're gonna take the wood to this guy," Carney says. "We're not gonna take him off the mat." #TXGOV
Will Abbott shift to the middle for the general election? "Greg Abbott's never shifted on an issue for elections, ever," Carney says.
How much influence does @DonHuffines have over Abbott going forward? "Who?" Carney asks.
More seriously, Carney says he hopes Huffines stays engaged "and spends some of his money to help candidates win in the general election."