Trump might want to keep a closer eye on Texas

[dalton99a]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2019/02/22/trump-might-want-keep-closer-eye-texas/

Trump might want to keep a closer eye on Texas
By Philip Bump
February 22 at 4:02 PM

Supporters of President Trump like to point out that Hillary Clinton’s popular vote victory in 2016 really came down to California. She won nationally by 2.9 million votes and California alone by 4.3 million. Drop California into the Pacific Ocean, and Trump has that landslide he kept talking about.

But that coin also flips the other way. But for 807,000 votes in Texas, Clinton would have won there — and the presidency. Big states have a big effect.

Why rehash this fight? In part, certainly, so I can spend my weekend deleting angry emails. But also in part because of new data released by Gallup, showing how respondents in each state felt about Trump’s presidency over the course of 2018.

The good news for Trump is that he had 50 percent approval or higher in 17 states, up from 12 in 2017. (The additions? Kansas, Mississippi, Missouri, South Carolina and Utah.)

The bad news? In 13 states he won in 2016, his approval rating is underwater. And in no state that he won in 2016 is his approval rating worse than in Texas.

[Dan]

1. If the nation re-elects Trump

Then I guess one can only assume that we as a nation support what he is doing... and if he is re-elected, then for myself, I’m going to shut off the news, relax and take care of self and family.

[modrepub]

2. Texas and Florida vs California and New York

Those are the biggest EC prizes. Guess what? Dems are closer to flipping TX and FL then Repubs are to taking CA and NY. If those states flip on any election cycle then the Repubs will only have the Senate as a choke point (and boy will they use it).

[onetexan]

3. i don't see GOP making headway in CA & NY any time soon

The GOP doesn't exist in CA.
The key to Dem win lies in the rust belt states - MI, PA, WI - and the other swing states NC, GA, AZ, FL.

Being a Tx resident, and seeing lyin' Cruz got reelected despite us having a very strong candidate, i'm not so sure Tx will be flippable in 2020...maybe 2024. Tx just has way too many rural counties which are heavily conservative (of the head-down-in- the-Koolaid variety). Unless Latinos and other minorities come out in much higher numbers to vote for the Dems candidate in the next general election i don't see the state flipping any time soon.

[Brother Buzz]

4. Senator Cornyn knows this and his sphincter mussels are tightening

Knowing that Beto O’Rourke could take him out WHEN he decides to run for the senate, especially after he's been forced to to hitch his wagon the orange anus' mess. Say what you want about Beto running for president, but the smart money says he will do the right thing and challenge Cornyn....and prevail.

Trump endorses Cornyn in Senate reelection bid
By REBECCA MORIN 02/21/2019 03:57 PM EST

President Donald Trump endorsed Sen. John Cornyn on Thursday as the Texas Republican prepares for an uphill reelection battle following the state’s close and costly Senate election in November.

“Senator John Cornyn has done an outstanding job for the people of Texas,” Trump tweeted. “He is strong on Crime, the Border, the Second Amendment and loves our Military and Vets. John has my complete and total endorsement. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”

Cornyn has begun preparing for the 2020 election earlier than other senators after the near-defeat of Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), in what was also the most expensive campaign in the country during the 2018 midterms. Cornyn has already collected $5.8 million in campaign cash, more than any other senator up for reelection.

Former Rep. Beto O’Rourke (D-Texas) nearly upset Cruz in November. In addition, two GOP congressmen lost to Democrats in districts that in the past were considered safe. The Republican counties surrounding the suburbs of Dallas and Houston that Cornyn relied on during his last reelection campaign are also turning more blue.

O’Rourke, who is strongly considering running for president, hasn’t ruled out running for the Senate against Cornyn.