The bitter fight over a Texas Senate seat that Democrats believe is within reach for the first time in decades should be ramping up right now.But in the final push, when campaigns believe most voters are finally tuning in, Democratic state Rep.James Talarico has been off the trail for 12 days.
His campaign says he is suffering from the flu and expected to be back in action this weekend.While he has appeared virtually at a forum, Talarico’s last in-person event in the state was on Sept.
26.He visited New York on Sept.
29 for a private fundraiser and, according to the virtual remarks he gave to the Hispanic Business Council the following day, he returned to Dallas and visited urgent care.It has all prompted a stream of fodder from his opponent, Republican Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, whose campaign is calling on Talarico to produce a photo of himself with a newspaper showing today’s date.
“We have a simple request: proof of life,” Paxton campaign spokeswoman Madison Cercy said.“James Talarico wants to represent 31 million Texans in the U.S.
Senate, but for 12 days, he’s hidden from every one of them.There’s a reason they call it ‘Texas Tough,’ and it’s not because Texans hide at the first sign of trouble.
If James Talarico is too fragile to face Texans, he has no business asking for their vote.”Add to GoogleKornacki: Trump’s 2024 support among Latinos fades in new NBC-Telemundo poll05:15While some Texas Democrats are shrugging it off, it is causing some consternation.“He’s like, really sick.
Believe me, we don’t want this right now,” a Texas Democrat involved in the Talarico race said.“We’d rather have him on the trail.” Talarico’s absence is undoubtedly a curveball for Democrats who believe his best asset is connecting with potential voters in person.
It also presents a turnaround for Talarico, who had been visible in the early days of the campaign as Paxton was off the trail.“After holding more than 100 pub...