Ted Cruz’s Former Spokesman Says Beto O’Rourke Might Win

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Another Republican has said in public that Senator Ted Cruz of Texas could possibly lose his reelection bid to Democrat Beto O’Rourke.

Rick Tyler, who was formerly the communications director for Cruz during his 2016 presidential campaign, was on MSNBC Sunday talking about his ex-boss’s chances of winning reelection in the Lone Star State. Reluctantly, Tyler admitted that there is a very real possibility that Cruz might lose this year.

MSNBC host Kasie Hunt asked Tyler the question directly, saying:

“As the former Cruz strategist, it does seem as though the signs are that Ted Cruz might actually lose this race?”

Tyler said that even in a predominately Republican state like Texas, O’Rourke is a real threat to the GOP incumbent.

“It’s possible — people say no, it’s not possible because again you look at Texas and say ‘it’s a red state and it’s never going to happen’ but Beto O’Rourke has consistently out-fundraised him two-to-one, and he doesn’t take PAC money,” Tyler said.

Tyler said that O’Rourke is running an “interesting campaign that has grabbed national attention. This means that he has people from all over the country sending him money, filling his campaign coffers.

Not only that, but recent polls have shown a tight race — much tighter than anyone expected. One recent poll showed the candidates running neck-and-neck, and in a virtual tie, with Cruz just one point ahead in the race.

“It should be a 10 to 15 point race, it’s not, it’s a zero to four point race,” Tyler said to Hunt.

Tyler’s comments came one day after White House budget chief Mick Mulvaney told Republicans at a closed-door meeting that it was a “possibility” that Cruz could lose.

Yesterday we also reported that Republicans are mounting an emergency campaign to try Cruz from defeat.

“Cruz’s Democratic opponent, Rep. Beto O’Rourke, has raised barrels of cash, closed the polling gap, and emerged as a cause célèbre of liberals nationwide. Behind the scenes, the White House, party leaders, and a collection of conservative outside groups have begun plotting out a full-fledged effort to bolster Cruz.”

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Leo Vidal

I am a lifelong Democrat with a passion for social justice and progressive issues. I have degrees in writing, economics and law from the University of Iowa.