Beto O'Rourke plans 'reintroduction' as 2020 buzz fizzles

[DonViejo]

By WILL WEISSERT and STEVE PEOPLES
2 hours ago

NEWTON, Iowa (AP) — Beto O’Rourke barreled into the 2020 presidential race with breakneck energy and a fly-by-the-seat-of-his-pants campaign style that saw him leap atop tables to address overflow crowds with the organic, off-the-cuff candor that had made him a Texas sensation.

But since his mid-March campaign launch, the buzz surrounding the former congressman has evaporated. Competing in a massive field of Democratic White House hopefuls, O’Rourke has sagged in the polls. He’s made few promises that resonated or produced headline-grabbing moments, instead driving around the country meeting with voters at mostly small events.

In a tacit recognition that this approach isn’t working, O’Rourke is planning to try again, taking a hands-on role in staging a “reintroduction” ahead of next month’s premier Democratic presidential debate. As he finalizes his plans, O’Rourke has entered an intentional “quiet period” to build out campaign infrastructure, according to an adviser who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the campaign’s strategy.

That will end soon. O’Rourke is planning to significantly ramp up national media appearances — he is appearing live on ABC’s “The View” on Tuesday after skipping most such exposure in recent months. He’s also poised to offer more concrete policy plans on top issues. So far, he’s issued just one — a sweeping proposal to combat climate change.

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https://apnews.com/1e32cf3855734117b0aa1a1d55867b6e

[democratisphere]

1. Sometimes you have to realize it just ain't going to happen.

Beto should refocus on winning something at the Congressional level first.

[Celerity]

3. He represented Texas' 16th District in the House of Representatives from 2013 to 2019.

I don't think he can beat Cornyn, so he may have to try for the House again, or wait for a Cruz re-match. Or maybe Biden picks him as VP.

[Indygram]

7. Biden supporters should contemplate what polls looked like in May of 2007

and stop acting like Biden is the inevitable nominee. It's really offensive and disrespectful to all of the incredible and amazing candidates running and their supporters. Also, Hillary was trouncing Obama in the polls this time in 2007 and she was not the nominee.

As for Beto...he is building support by talking to and listening to voters and earning it. Those supporters will not shift to a different candidate every time the wind blows or be soft supporters based on name recognition only. He'll be just fine. The only reason his poll numbers are not higher is because he wasn't doing tv news interview. That changes starting Monday when he goes on Rachel Maddow and Tuesday on The View. He also has an HBO documentary in a couple of weeks and the debates in June. That's going to change everything.

[Drunken Irishman]

22. 2007 was still a two-person race between Hillary and Obama...

It's not like Obama was polling in the low single digits like Beto currently. At this point in 2007, Obama was trailing Clinton by anywhere from 8 to 15 points. Definitely was an underdog but Biden's lead currently is larger than Hillary's at this point in 2007.

[mobeau69]

27. So how big does one's lead have to be to make it acceptable to be

offensive and disrespectful to all of the other incredible and amazing candidates running and their supporters?

A lot could happen between now and when the first votes are cast i.e. Biden and 1987. How soon we forget!

[Drunken Irishman]

30. Who is advocating for that?

But let's call a spade a spade.

Andrew Yang is not going to be the nominee. Pointing that out, even if it's impossible to prove at this point, isn't being disrespectful - it's just being a realist.

It also is disingenuous to compare this to 2007. Clinton never dominated the field like Biden currently is - and it was an even smaller field than what we have right now. Does that mean Biden can't sink? Absolutely not ... but the hard truths are that some candidates are struggling. Should they drop out? No - but questioning their viability at this point isn't being offensive or disrespectful.

[mobeau69]

34. The poster you replied to was not advocating it. He was pointing out that a lot of ole Joe's

supporters are guilty of it.

IMO a lot of Biden supporters are spiking the ball a little early. Look at what happened in 1987.

[Drunken Irishman]

35. Second time you mentioned 1987...

Interesting.

What happened in 1987? Biden, a fairly fresh-face to national politics, had to end his campaign after never gaining traction and then fighting back accusations of plagiarism. What the hell does that have to do with 2019? Biden wasn't remotely a front-runner in 1987, with little name recognition and polling numbers that put him more in line with Beto currently than anything close to top-tier candidate. In fact, in 1987, he was barely above Bruce Babbit in the polls:



Unless you're talking about how Dukakis rose to win the nomination...except even here, you can see that no candidate had near the lead Biden has currently.

So, continuing to point out 1987 as if it proves something doesn't jibe. Biden isn't a fresh face anymore. He's a well-known, established candidate who was Vice President to the most popular Democratic president since JFK. His campaign didn't come to a halt because of those accusations - it wasn't going to end with him winning the nomination.

Or are you talking about Gary Hart? Is this a subtle jab at Biden and the insinuation he might be sunk like Hart was over the whole Donna Rice affair?

I guess I'm just confused as to why, in two replies in this thread, you brought up 1987.

[Celerity]

2. he hardly ever does MSM appearances

A shame, I really like him, but it may not take off this time for him. Maybe he can still turn it around.

[PatSeg]

5. I believe he's going to be on Rachel's show

on Monday.

I think he's shooting too high, too soon and should consider another senate run or perhaps governor. Personally, I don't think he's ready for a presidential race. Right now, Democratic voters need less performance and more experience. Maybe he can reinvent himself, but I don't see that he has enough time for that. Not every bright star can end up in the White House. There are so many ways to serve.

[Tipperary]

6. I agree.

He needs to concentrate on Texas.

[dalton99a]

16. Like the mayor needs to stay in Indiana?

I like Buttigieg. Running for president was a stroke of genius. If nothing else, his financial future is secure as a speaker and author

[cwydro]

19. I think Buttigieg is more qualified than Beto.

[PatSeg]

20. Buttigieg comes across

as more focused and disciplined than O'Rourke, which is very important for a presidential candidate. Whatever happens during this presidential primary, I think Buttigieg's future in politics is assured. He has made a great impression on a lot of people.

[Tipperary]

21. Yes, I think the same.

On all points.

[JI7]

31. how is Beto not focused and disciplined ? you might just be referring to personality types

[RLG]

24. In what way?

A Rhodes Scholar makes one more qualified?

I think Buttigieg should return to Indiana as well and run statewide.

[JI7]

32. no democrat is going to win statewide in the near future unless there is a recession

or the democrat is some right wing type and the republican just really fucks up. like the rape is not rape republican from a few years ago. but even republicans have become more right wing on that and the rape is not rape crap is likely to get a pass.

[Honeycombe8]

4. I'm glad to see he recognizes he's in trouble.

Can he catch up to the others? We'll see. I feel for him. It did look good for him before he entered. Then it just suddenly went very far south.

[Indygram]

9. He's ahead of the others in ground game, just behind on going on tv

He's changing that starting Monday. You will see him go up in the polls over the next month or two.

[left-of-center2012]

12. "He's ahead of the others in ground game"

Uh, no

[Indygram]

15. How many states do other candidates have out knocking on doors or clipboarding today and tomorrow?

There are groups of volunteers on the ground canvassing and clipboarding for Beto in 74 locations in 26 states today and tomorrow. These are canvassing events where multiple people get together and canvass.

https://map.betoorourke.com/

[Amimnoch]

10. Not in trouble at all. this is how he works it, and it does very well.

Ref my post #8.

[left-of-center2012]

13. "it does very well"

As reflected in his poll numbers?

uh, no

[JI7]

33. we are still months away from the election .

[Amimnoch]

8. It's what he does.

This shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone.

Just as his senate run in Texas.. First he does an aggressive agenda of small rally events all over the place. At these rallies, he meets with people, talks with people, and most importantly LISTENS to people. Finds out what really is most important to them. This is what he said he was going to do when he announced, and has been doing since.

Look at his last 5 days:
963 miles driven, 133 questions answered from voters at 22 events across 17 counties:
🚙Council Bluffs
🚙Pacific Junction
🚙Shenandoah
🚙Red Oak
🚙Atlantic
🚙Creston
🚙Newton
🚙Des Moines
🚙Indianola
🚙Adel
🚙Boone
🚙Waverly
🚙Charles City
🚙Fayette
🚙Mason City
🚙Lakeville
🚙Minneapolis

For those who haven’t been following, at many of these stops he’s engaged and joined others on Democratic Party tickets building a coalition, and drumming up support for them as well. This is actually one of the things I love most about him. This strategy works as well. My own district has a Democratic Party Representative for the first time since the 1960’s when George HW Bush was seated in no small part due to the energy he raised in his 2018 campaign.

Once he is done with these, then comes the media blitz with a well thought out campaign and speeches that is really targeted at what he heard people want. In Texas, it was during this phase of his campaign that he catapulted to national recognition.

Hold onto your socks. If he’s ready to switch modes again, it’s about to get very interesting.

[dalton99a]

11. And he's letting O'Malley Dillon and Berman make campaign decisions

while he's driving (literally)

[left-of-center2012]

14. If you have to do a reboot ...

Last edited Sat May 11, 2019, 11:58 AM - Edit history (1)

It just ain't working.

[Indygram]

17. I would bet that the "reintroduction" is the reporters term

And not Beto's.

[left-of-center2012]

18. How about ...

"The new and improved Beto !"

[JI7]

28. Beto is the same. only difference is he will do more national media appearances

[NurseJackie]

23. Honestly, I think he's "auditioning" for VP.

[RLG]

25. So is Buttigieg nt

[mtnsnake]

26. Now THAT was a good comeback

[NurseJackie]

29. Agreed.