Beto O'Rourke launches presidential bid

[LieutenantGains]

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-47564276

The former Texas Congressman Robert "Beto" O'Rourke has formally announced he is running for president in the 2020 election after months of speculation.

The Democratic rising star is joining in the race to take on Republican President Donald Trump next year.

Mr O'Rourke, 46, is the 15th Democrat to declare his bid for the White House.

In last year's mid-term election, he ran a tight race against Republican Ted Cruz for his Senate seat, though it proved ultimately unsuccessful.

But he did better than any Democrat in Texas for decades, running a media-friendly campaign that energised the Democratic Party nationwide and drew comparisons with former President Barack Obama.

He joins a growing roster of people vying for the Democratic nomination - including senators Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, Kamala Harris, Amy Klobuchar and Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigieg to name but a few.

Appearing alongside his wife in his campaign launch video, Mr O'Rourke said this was the "defining moment of truth for this country and every single one of us".

He said the challenges on the economy, democracy and climate change "have never been greater. They will either consume us or they will afford us the greatest opportunity to unleash the genius of the United States of America".

There's something strange about an electoral defeat launching a presidential campaign. But 2020 is shaping up to be a strange election cycle.

Beto O'Rourke captured the imagination of Democrats across America with his energetic, yet ultimately unsuccessful, 2018 bid to unseat Republican Senator Ted Cruz in Texas.

He became a social media star, packed rallies across the state and posted fundraising numbers more akin to a presidential contender than a Senate hopeful.

Now he is a presidential contender.

The former congressman from El Paso enters a crowded presidential field, but few of his competitors have matched Mr O'Rourke's star power.

Bernie Sanders has his passionate devotees. Kalama Harris pulled 20,000 to her campaign kickoff in Oakland. But Mr O'Rourke has the potential to match them cheer for cheer.

Sensible journalists swoon. "Beto" attire has been spotted in Brooklyn coffee shops and on the head of basketball star Lebron James. Despite a paper-thin resume, Mr O'Rourke is a rare political phenomenon.

The late Texas writer Molly Ivins once observed that a successful presidential candidate has to have "a little Elvis in him". Mr O'Rourke has Elvis in spades. Enough Elvis to open a Las Vegas casino.

Now Elvis is going on tour.

His first name is actually Robert, but is known by his nickname Beto - a common contraction of Roberto, which he picked up as a child in El Paso.

The former punk rock musician is seen as a rising star in the Democratic Party, who can draw huge crowds and funding.

A fluent Spanish speaker, the Texan politician with Irish roots broke Senate fundraising records by amassing more than $80 million (£62 million) over the course of his 2018 campaign.

He also travelled to all of Texas's 254 counties in his Senate bid, documenting every moment of the journey on social media.

Several parody accounts appeared online mocking the posts. Even supporters questioned why Mr O'Rourke was on the road while others vying for the Democratic party's nomination amassed staff and funding.

CNN political reporter Nia-Malika Henderson described the journey as a "navel-gazing, self-involved, rollout of a possible rollout of a possible presidential campaign".

"This is a luxury no woman or even minority in politics could ever have," she wrote.

One conservative campaign group has already aired an advert attacking him for "white male privilege".

But the premiere of a documentary about his Senate run, Running With Beto, at South by Southwest festival this month earned a standing ovation.

An email from his Senate campaign went out to supporters shortly after saying: "Many of us are crossing our fingers and hoping that Beto has decided to run."

The only other dem candidate I like as much as Bernie. Realistically I don't think he'll get the nomination, but would be a strong VP pick.

[JoshSP1985]

Hate white males / ascend them to the Presidency

[BFast55]

The man lost his senate race. Obviously he is a perfect democrat presidential material.

[Tamorlane]

Hate white males / ascend them to the Presidency

maybe they don't hate white males and you folk are retards?

Yea it looks like that lines up with reality more accurately

[Tamorlane]

The man lost his senate race. Obviously he is a perfect democrat presidential material.

he almost turned a state blue that has been red for decades

[dabbmw2002]

Thet call the guy Elvis and say he took the country by storm...... leave out the massive financial backing he got and the huge media push. Another AOC but more polished and not as stupid.

[BFast55]

he almost turned a state blue that has been red for decades

Yeah, over 78,000,000 in outside money and over 150 staffers couldn't pull a win. Cruz had 45,000,000 and 8 staffers working on his campaign.
He's a loser, therefore I encourage leftist to prop him up.

[JoshSP1985]

maybe they don't hate white males and you folk are retards?

Yea it looks like that lines up with reality more accurately

There is literally an ENDLESS stream of anti-white male propaganda from leftist media sources.

[Lefticle]

Another one jumps in the clown car

[chaunce54]

His campaign has about as much energy as Jeb!'s did.

[JoshSP1985]

His campaign has about as much energy as Jeb!'s did.

Dunno about that his hype was pretty legit. Jeb was one of the most limp dick candidates of all time.

[JoshSP1985]

I like how all the publications call him by his nick name to make him seem more hip. Okay then Robert.

[Tamorlane]

Another one jumps in the clown car

Funny because for the last two decades Republicans have destroyed the country and have nothing to offer Americans.

6 trillion in lost war, ballooned the deficit, destroyed the economy, get nothing of value done.

It's okay, the big boy democrats will take control once again and clean up the mess caused by the mouth-breathing right

[kusok]

the only other dem candidate i like as much as bernie. Realistically i don't think he'll get the nomination, but would be a strong vp pick.

lmao!

[Tamorlane]

I like how all the publications call him by his nick name to make him seem more hip. Okay then Robert.

Usually in a normal society we call people by what they want to be called by. I'm sure you as a partisan tard surely call Ted Cruz Rafael.

[JoshSP1985]

Funny because for the last two decades Republicans have destroyed the country and have nothing to offer Americans.

6 trillion in war, ballooned the deficit, destroyed the economy, get nothing of value done.

It's okay, the big boy democrats will take control once again and clean up the mess caused by the mouth-breathing right

What exactly did mesiah Obama clean up in his 8 years?

[JoshSP1985]

Usually in a normal society we call people by what they want to be called by. I'm sure you as a partisan tard surely call Ted Cruz Rafael.

For a news publication?

Robert Francis "Beto" O'Rourke
or
Robert "Beto" O'Rourke

Edit:

I'll concede my post about his name is petty I just can't stand people screaming "BETO" "BETO"

[Lefticle]

Funny because for the last two decades Republicans have destroyed the country and have nothing to offer Americans.

6 trillion in war, ballooned the deficit, destroyed the economy, get nothing of value done.

It's okay, the big boy democrats will take control once again and clean up the mess caused by the mouth-breathing right

What the hell are you even talking about. Your Lord and Savior Hussein was President for almost half of the last two decades, dumbass.

[Tamorlane]

What exactly did mesiah Obama clean up in his 8 years?

Recovered the economy in worst financial crisis since great depression

Killed bin Laden (Bush tried and failed like a typical retardlican)

Won the Nobel Peace Prize (Trump tried and failed like a typical retardlican)

Restored unity to the country, most inclusive president of all time (Trump has destroyed unity, most divisive president in US history)

[jeffl1980]

he almost turned a state blue that has been red for decades

Cruz isnt popular in Texas. Trump is.

Comparing mid terms to a Presidential election is idiotic to say the least.

[kusok]

Lol Tamorlane has been losing it lately. More than usual. Anyone else notice that? Lol

[JoshSP1985]

Recovered the economy in worst financial crisis since great depression

Killed bin Laden (Bush tried and failed like a typical retardlican)

Won the Nobel Peace Prize (Trump tried and failed like a typical retardlican)

Restored unity to the country, most inclusive president of all time (Trump has destroyed unity, most divisive president in US history)

It's pretty hilarious that out of 8 years those are the things you chose to highlight. The Nobel thing is hilariously stupid, unity? are you kidding me, Obama divided this country more so than any president in US history due to him fanning the flames of racial division. Killed Bin Laden? give me a break you or anyone trying to attribute that directly to Obama are sad.

As far as the only thing on your list that actually had anything policy related the recovery would have happened regardless of what Obama did and by many accounts he actually hamstrung it.

[JoshSP1985]

Lol Tamorlane has been losing it lately. More than usual. Anyone else notice that? Lol

Mueller investigation being a bust and Trumps 2nd term are going to cause actual real mental damage to these people.

[dfwt70gt]

Recovered the economy in worst financial crisis since great depression

Killed bin Laden (Bush tried and failed like a typical retardlican)

Won the Nobel Peace Prize (Trump tried and failed like a typical retardlican)

Restored unity to the country, most inclusive president of all time (Trump has destroyed unity, most divisive president in US history)

First, you are crazy defensive for Beta. It's a little rabid.

Secondly, with the exception of the Nobel Peace Prize, which the committee chairman regretted giving to Barry, all of what you wrote is bullchit.

-massive bailouts jacking the debt up higher
-SOCOM killed Bin Laden, Barry dressed up in a Starter jacket back in the US and just gave the order. Also, Clinton had Bin Laden twice during his presidency and let him go
-the country is more divided now than it was back in the Democrat instituted Jim Crow period.

Your emotional fervor for Beta is disturbing.

[StarFox]

Lol Tamorlane has been losing it lately. More than usual. Anyone else notice that? Lol

It’s hilarious, especially considering he/she’s Canadian

Talking about how “we’re” gonna take back the country from the eeeevil Republicans, and you don’t even have a say in the matter lol fukk outta here

[Xinroth]

The least moronic 2020 candidate so far, or so it seems.

Some of the women running can get it though. Ain't gonna be N.Korea if we have yum yum sauce as president.

[chivasregal]

It’s surely over for Drumpf!

No, but really, it is (srs)

I’m not a big Beto fan even though we live in the same city, but the energy this guy brings us enormous. Yes, he lost against Ted. But come on, Texas has been red for decades and this Beto guy almost turned it blue.

[Dave22reborn]

Funny because for the last two decades Republicans have destroyed the country and have nothing to offer Americans.

6 trillion in lost war, ballooned the deficit, destroyed the economy, get nothing of value done.

It's okay, the big boy democrats will take control once again and clean up the mess caused by the mouth-breathing right

Are you having an episode right now?

[InstantLoser]

maybe they don't hate white males and you folk are retards?

Then why do leftists constantly bring up white males as being a problem if they don't hate them?

[Dave22reborn]

It’s surely over for Drumpf!

No, but really, it is (srs)

I’m not a big Beto fan even though we live in the same city, but the energy this guy brings us enormous. Yes, he lost against Ted. But come on, Texas has been red for decades and this Beto guy almost turned it blue.

Good to see you crawl out of your hole of depression after he lost.