How would you rate TX-Sen?

[Cactus Jack]

Likely R, but:

Cruz seems like exactly the kind of guy that would have a massive scandal revealed about him.

[Cactus Jack]

Safe R. O'Rourke Jones is too liberal for Texas Alabama.

Ahem...

[Cactus Jack]

Safe R. Come on. Cruz is not Roy Moore.

But he is a sleazeball, and Texas isn't Alabama. As I've already pointed out, Russ Feingold lost comfortably in a Wisconsin that was almost as Obama-friendly as Texas is Trump-friendly.

[Cactus Jack]

Would O'Rourke do better with Lupe Valdez or Andrew White as the Democratic nominee for Governor?

Valdez is probably the stronger of the two, but I suspect that this race will operate in reverse: O'Rourke will most likely help the TX-GOV nominee on account of his high profile. It won't be enough to take out Abbott - I'm certainly not under that delusion - but that's the way I imagine it'll work.

[Cactus Jack]

Would O'Rourke do better with Lupe Valdez or Andrew White as the Democratic nominee for Governor?

Valdez is probably the stronger of the two, but I suspect that this race will operate in reverse: O'Rourke will most likely help the TX-GOV nominee on account of his high profile. It won't be enough to take out Abbott - I'm certainly not under that delusion - but that's the way I imagine it'll work.

Abbott appears to be enroute to a comfortable re-election so I would imagine that should help Ted Cruz.

You'd be surprised. There have been a number of stories circulating about O'Rourke's appeal to the Trump base (mostly on the grounds of his honesty about the issues and sincerity as a person, from what I've read) and Cruz' total lack of it. Win or lose, I imagine Beto sees a significant amount of crossover support from Abbott voters, simply on account of Abbott not having alienated significant swathes of Republicans.