BY JASON LEMON
ON 10/23/22
Texas Democratic gubernatorial candidate Beto O'Rourke is within 2 percentage points of Republican Governor Greg Abbott in the latest poll released by Beacon Research on Sunday, showing a possible shift in momentum just two weeks away from the midterm election.
The poll shows Abbott with 48 percent of the vote compared to O'Rourke's 46 percent. The survey polled 1,125 Americans who said they "definitely plan" on going to the polls and was conducted from October 15 to 19. The margin of error for the poll is 2.8 percentage points.
Meanwhile, a Texas Democratic strategist, who did not want to be named, told Newsweek on Sunday, "I can't imagine Beto not capitalizing on this. People on the ground are fed up with Abbott."
While this shows a glimmer of hope for Democrats in the Lone Star State, other polls have not been so favorable for O'Rourke, who was a former congressman. According to the latest FiveThirtyEight average of recent polls, the Republican governor has a strong lead over his Democratic challenger with a near 8-point advantage. In the RealClearPolitics average, Abbott stretched his lead to 8.7 percentage points against O'Rourke.
Texas Democratic gubernatorial candidate Beto O'Rourke is within 2 percentage points of Republican Governor Greg Abbott in the latest poll released by Beacon Research on Sunday, showing a possible shift in momentum just two weeks away from the midterm election.
The poll shows Abbott with 48 percent of the vote compared to O'Rourke's 46 percent. The survey polled 1,125 Americans who said they "definitely plan" on going to the polls and was conducted from October 15 to 19. The margin of error for the poll is 2.8 percentage points.
Meanwhile, a Texas Democratic strategist, who did not want to be named, told Newsweek on Sunday, "I can't imagine Beto not capitalizing on this. People on the ground are fed up with Abbott."
While this shows a glimmer of hope for Democrats in the Lone Star State, other polls have not been so favorable for O'Rourke, who was a former congressman. According to the latest FiveThirtyEight average of recent polls, the Republican governor has a strong lead over his Democratic challenger with a near 8-point advantage. In the RealClearPolitics average, Abbott stretched his lead to 8.7 percentage points against O'Rourke.
Above, Texas Democratic gubernatorial candidate Beto O'Rourke speaks at a rally on October 18 in Houston. A new poll shows O'Rourke closing the gap with Texas incumbent Republican Governor Greg Abbott.
BRANDON BELL/GETTY IMAGES
Former President Donald Trump took aim at O'Rourke at a rally in Robstown, Texas, on Saturday night and said: "Seventeen days from now, the people of Texas are going to defeat Beto O'Rourke, a flake. He's a flake! And we're going to keep Greg Abbott, a wonderful man, a great man, a great governor, we're going to keep him in the governor's mansion."
Trump added that he plans to bring the "MAGA movement" to Texas next month. The former president's rally came just two days before early voting opens in the state.
"Voters all across this state are ready to turn the page on Greg Abbott's failures and vote for change after eight years of him putting his extreme agenda over the people of Texas," O'Rourke said, according to the Texas Democratic Party. "With over 100,000 volunteers, we have the largest on-the-ground organizing program in Texas history that is committed to turning out the new, infrequent and overlooked voters who will be the margin of victory on the eighth of November."
In the latest Quinnipiac University poll, the "most urgent" issues facing Texans are the Texas-Mexico border, abortion and inflation. Nationally, economic issues like jobs, inflation, and unemployment have been top issues for voters. The poll also shows that likely voters are split over Abbott's bussing of migrants to Democratic-led states. He shows a 51 percent approval rating on the issue versus a 47 percent disapproval rating.
Former President Donald Trump took aim at O'Rourke at a rally in Robstown, Texas, on Saturday night and said: "Seventeen days from now, the people of Texas are going to defeat Beto O'Rourke, a flake. He's a flake! And we're going to keep Greg Abbott, a wonderful man, a great man, a great governor, we're going to keep him in the governor's mansion."
Trump added that he plans to bring the "MAGA movement" to Texas next month. The former president's rally came just two days before early voting opens in the state.
"Voters all across this state are ready to turn the page on Greg Abbott's failures and vote for change after eight years of him putting his extreme agenda over the people of Texas," O'Rourke said, according to the Texas Democratic Party. "With over 100,000 volunteers, we have the largest on-the-ground organizing program in Texas history that is committed to turning out the new, infrequent and overlooked voters who will be the margin of victory on the eighth of November."
In the latest Quinnipiac University poll, the "most urgent" issues facing Texans are the Texas-Mexico border, abortion and inflation. Nationally, economic issues like jobs, inflation, and unemployment have been top issues for voters. The poll also shows that likely voters are split over Abbott's bussing of migrants to Democratic-led states. He shows a 51 percent approval rating on the issue versus a 47 percent disapproval rating.
Political science professor and analyst Dr. Susan MacManus told Newsweek on Sunday, "At this point with weeks out until the election it is really Abbotts' to lose. How Beto handles those key issues is telling...those positions lean Republican."
"We are such a polarized country, people see Americans through two different lenses," MacManus added about the sky-high interest surrounding the midterm elections this cycle.
Meanwhile, the new Beacon Research poll also shows that Abbot and O'Rourke hold on to 90 percent of their party, however independents were shown to swing in favor of O'Rourke.
"We are such a polarized country, people see Americans through two different lenses," MacManus added about the sky-high interest surrounding the midterm elections this cycle.
Meanwhile, the new Beacon Research poll also shows that Abbot and O'Rourke hold on to 90 percent of their party, however independents were shown to swing in favor of O'Rourke.
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