Democratic debate: Low-key Julian Castro gets tough, upstages Beto O'Rourke in first meet

[TexasTowelie]

Former San Antonio Mayor Julián Castro, struggling to gain traction since entering the race for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination, finally gained national attention Wednesday night at the first debate of the cycle — and it came at the expense of Beto O'Rourke.

"Castro delivered a serious political blow to fellow Texan O’Rourke on criminalizing border crossing," said University of Houston political science professor Brandon Rottinghaus. "Without immigration as a policy plus, a significant O’Rourke implicit strength disappears."

In the post-debate analysis on the debate-hosting cable network, MSNBC, pundits were quick to point out that O'Rourke failed to regain the early promise he had showed when he entered the race on the strength he demonstrated in Texas in his narrow 2018 loss to Republican U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz.

The immigration blow came in the form of an interruption when the former El Paso congressman was decrying the recent drowning deaths in the Rio Grande of a young father from El Salvador and his 23-month-old daughter.

Read more: https://www.gosanangelo.com/story/news/local/texas/state-bureau/2019/06/26/democratic-debate-julian-castro-upstage-beto-o-rourke-texas/1580437001/

[liskddksil]

1. Yeah unfortunately taking cheap shots at Beto's serious proposal

that could get 60 votes in the Senate, with a well-meaning but overboard policy that would brand Democrats up and down ballot as the open-borders party counts as a "win" these days.

[TexasTowelie]

2. Exactly.

A win on a debate point is not the same as a win at the ballot box. Castro already made his point in his response that preceded Beto's response. Interrupting Beto during his response was not necessary.

[marylandblue]

3. Yes. I also thought Castro's focus on Section 1325 was too wonky.

People don't know what that is and aren't going to look it up. It proves that Castro is well informed, but that's about it. He's not running for Secretary of DHS. Or is he?

[George II]

4. He was the most impressive on stage last night. And none of his responses seemed canned.

[JanetLovesObama]

5. Castro is a good candidate but

acting like a jackass towards Beto was a major turnoff for me.

[SouthernProgressive]

6. Castro is a breath of fresh air.

He knows his stuff. For the most part, all of our candidates are and do. I favor Castro in this instance. That doesn't mean I dislike Beto or think Beto was hit hard. These are important issues. Adults showed up to debate. We are the winners from these exchanges.