TX-SEN: True to Form

[McGovernForPrez]

Also for those interested in how Beto might fair tonight, here's Beto on Sean Hannity.

In fairness Ted Cruz is definitely a more formidable opponent than Tucker Carlson.

[Confused Democrat]

Also for those interested in how Beto might fair tonight, here's Beto on Sean Hannity.

In fairness Ted Cruz is definitely a more formidable opponent than Tucker Carlson.

Their faces are both just as punchable tho

Also, I feel like Lyin Ted's debate skills are overrated/over-hyped.

[Co-Chair Bagel23]

The debate is like 15 minutes from my house, but I figured it would be a madhouse, so I’m not going, Imma come home change into jammies and watch it on tv.

[Terry the Fat Shark]

https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/politics/NBC-5-The-Dallas-Morning--News-SMU-to-Present-1st-Senate-Debate-493337501.html
Link to the livestream, video player will be on at 5:30 PM (Central) and debate runs from 6-7 PM Central

[Beet]

Both of them are not bad speakers at the right moments, but Cruz definitely has more experience and polish, and he knows how to speak to his conservative Texas base. I would give a narrow edge to Cruz at the moment, but because views are so polarized on this race, to national liberal audiences it might look like O'Rourke wins.

[PragmaticPopulist]

Both of them are not bad speakers at the right moments, but Cruz definitely has more experience and polish, and he knows how to speak to his conservative Texas base. I would give a narrow edge to Cruz at the moment, but because views are so polarized on this race, to national liberal audiences it might look like O'Rourke wins.

I actually agree with Beet on something. 

Cook moving the race to tossup was premature. I still think Cruz holds a low-to-mid single digit lead.

[Co-Chair Bagel23]

Got the debate on local tv about to start.

[Confused Democrat]

Got the debate on local tv about to start.

Waiting for it to start online.

[Confused Democrat]

The stream is live!

[Terry the Fat Shark]

Beto is destroying Ted Cruz right now.

[junior chįmp]

Jesus....Lyin Ted's lying is out of control in this debate

[MT Treasurer]

Beto is destroying Ted Cruz right now.

Err, I think both are doing pretty well.

[Confused Democrat]

Jesus....Lyin Ted's lying is out of control in this debate

They call him Lyin Ted for a reason.

[GeorgiaModerate]

Jesus....Lyin Ted's lying is out of control in this debate

They call him Lyin Ted for a reason.

Maybe he should be known as the Lyin' King.

(I'll get my coat.)

[Hindsight was 2020]

Beto veins really pop out of his neck.

[junior chįmp]

Jesus....Lyin Ted's lying is out of control in this debate

They call him Lyin Ted for a reason.

So thats how he got that name

[Torrain]

Jesus....Lyin Ted's lying is out of control in this debate

They call him Lyin Ted for a reason.

Maybe he should be known as the Lyin' King.

(I'll get my coat.)

[Florida Man for Crime]

It's a mistake to look at the debate in terms of whether you personally like a candidate most.

To tell who is winning the debate, you have to consider most voters. On those grounds, Lyin Ted (lies and all) is a masterdebator and is winning the debate so far. Beto has had his moments, but on the whole Ted's lies will appeal more to the majority of TX voters.

[SteveRogers]

They certainly each have different goals in this debate. Beto is trying to come across as reasonable and pragmatic to win over swing voters (while at the same time sticking unflinchingly to his liberal positions without any flip-flopping). Cruz on the other hand is preaching right wing dogma to energize his base. Hard to say which will be dubbed the winner.

[Virginiá]

Few things:

1. I haven't watched the entire debate so far, but it seems like Beto isn't really attacking Cruz. I don't know why. The preexisting condition issue was a great thing to attack him on, but he just went into a personal story. Is that really the best way to go about this? Because Cruz literally shut down the govt to repeal the PPACA, and thus preexisting conditions. Maybe he doesn't need to go full attack dog mode like Cruz, but at least call him out on the big things. And this is a big thing to voters.

2. Why on earth did Beto agree to 5 debates (is it still 5?)? I mean that seems like a lot of debates for a Senate race, and considering Cruz has the upper hand on account of TX being TX and on account of Cruz being a good debater, it seems foolish to ask for that many chances to slip up. If Beto takes the lead, he ought to just stop debating Cruz.

3. Committing to impeaching Trump wasn't a good move, in my opinion. It gives Cruz something to beat him with over and over again. This is compounded by having 5 debates instead of just, like, 2 or 3 at most.

[bilaps]

It's a mistake to look at the debate in terms of whether you personally like a candidate most.

To tell who is winning the debate, you have to consider most voters. On those grounds, Lyin Ted (lies and all) is a masterdebator and is winning the debate so far. Beto has had his moments, but on the whole Ted's lies will appeal more to the majority of TX voters.

Yeah, I agree. O Rourke will never win in Texas with this stuff. If this is California, no doubt, but it's not.

[bilaps]

Two things:

1. I haven't watched the entire debate so far, but it seems like Beto isn't really attacking Cruz. I don't know why. The preexisting condition issue was a great thing to attack him on, but he just went into a personal story. Is that really the best way to go about this? Because Cruz literally shut down the govt to repeal the PPACA, and thus preexisting conditions. Maybe he doesn't need to go full attack dog mode like Cruz, but at least call him out on the big things. And this is a big thing to voters.

2. Why on earth did Beto agree to 5 debates (is it still 5?)? I mean that seems like a lot of debates for a Senate race, and considering Cruz has the upper hand on account of TX being TX and on account of Cruz being a good debater, it seems foolish to ask for that many chances to slip up. If Beto takes the lead, he ought to just stop debating Cruz.

3 debates i think

[Galaxie]

How many people are watching the debate total? Can’t see any way this does anything but hurt Beto

[Virginiá]

I love how Republicans / Cruz keep saying the HARD LEFT / SOCIALISTS are fired up when a big part of the activism in the Democratic Party is coming from moderate white college educated suburban women, many of whom were voting for Republicans more often than not prior to the Age of Trump.

[SteveRogers]

Beto finally going on the attack a little.