A majority of Democrats in Texas believe it would be best if Beto O’Rourke stepped down from the 2020 presidential race to run for Senate, with many claiming they are skeptical that the former Texas congressman could beat President Trump.
By a margin of 60% – almost two-thirds – to 27%, those polled expressed a desire that “O’Rourke should challenge Republican incumbent U.S. Sen. John Cornyn in the 2020 U.S. Senate race, rather than continue his campaign for president,” according to a Quinnipiac University poll published Wednesday.
The Quinnipiac poll is further confirmation that support for O’Rourke continues to slip, which a Reuters poll also indicated Thursday. Among Democratic and independent voters polled nationally, O’Rourke’s support slid 3 percentage points since May to a mere 3%.
Ranking sixth in a field of 24 candidates, O’Rourke remains far from the bottom of the list, despite his declining popularity.
“Why do Texas Democrats want to see a second O’Rourke Senate campaign?” wrote David Leonhardt in the New York Times. “I can’t get inside their heads, but I think their view is rational. The Democrats have enough presidential candidates, and O’Rourke doesn’t currently look like the strongest one.”
Former Vice President Joe Biden remains the front-runner in the large field, with many claiming that he has the best chance of defeating Trump. “I think things are really messed up right now in America, and I trust Biden more,” a Democratic voter told Reuters.
