AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Democratic U.S. Rep. Beto O’Rourke says he raised more than $10.4 million over the past three months, putting him on track to again outpace U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, whom he’s trying to upset in November.
O’Rourke announced Wednesday that his donations through June 30 came from nearly 216,000 contributors. He has more than $14 million in campaign cash on hand.
O’Rourke’s campaign has shunned donations from outside groups but still racked up impressive fundraising totals, repeatedly outraising Cruz.
The incumbent Republican hasn’t released his latest fundraising numbers. But the Washington Examiner reported that Cruz raised more than $4 million from April through June, leaving him with a campaign war chest worth about $10 million.
An ex-punk rocker from El Paso, O’Rourke’s campaign has garnered national attention. But he remains an underdog against Cruz.
Ocasio-Cortez/Beto 2020!
I dare to hope.
Unfortunately this is only HALF the story.
Democrats are funded by DONATIONS.
Republicans are funded by PLUTOCRATS and their 501c foundations, Think-Tanks, on-the-dole Pundits, John-Bircher-Billionaires, and foreign governments via Corporate PACS. They also get billions in free air-time on State TV (FOX) and fawning coverage on the feckless and lazy MSM.
So, even though Hillary outraised and FAR outspent Trump, he had waaaaay more air-time than her and waaaayyyy more undocumented outside support and she could not claw her way through the noise to get her message across.
I hope the same thing will not happen in this race.
It’s the political equivalent of “If you can’t dazzle them with brilliance, baffle them with Bull Shit!” strategy that sweeps odious Republicans into office time after time.
The Republicans figured out 40 years ago that people vote with their EMOTIONS, yet Democrats still think they can Debate and Policy-Wonk their way into office. History proves otherwise.
Beto is an excellent candidate, he is an excellent campaigner, and has excellent Policy Positions.
Now he just needs an EMOTIONAL HOOK to get people to the polls to vote FOR HIM as opposed to AGAINST THE OTHER GUY to put him over the top.
In Texas. there’s only one statistic that matters: Republicans outnumber Democrats by a three to two margin. I wish O’Rourke a ton of luck and hope he wins. That said, I’m not feeling a lot of optimism.
Added: If Democrats must protest, they should also set up tables to help people to register to vote. Voting is the only protest that matters. I wish there would be a national effort to start another ACORN.
“You have to understand that I like Ted Cruz probably more than my colleagues like Ted Cruz, and I hate Ted Cruz.” – Al Franken