Abbott makes rare late campaign appearance in El Paso
Candidates in the Texas Governor’s race held campaign events in El Paso on Monday, including an appearance by the Republican candidate.
UTEP Political Science professor Dr. Gregory Rocha told ABC-7 he couldn’t remember the last time a Republican running for state office campaigned in El Paso that late in the game, making it a political rarity for the city.
Attorney General Greg Abbot, who is running for governor, spoke with supporters at Gun Central in East El Paso. His guest was TV tough guy and outspoken conservative Chuck Norris, drawing an overflow crowd of nearly 200.
Many admitted to being there just to see Norris, who told the crowd, while referring to President Barack Obama: “You’ve seen what weak leadership has done to our country. We need to make sure that doesn’t happen in Texas.”
Abbott told the crowd there was no better way to begin the last week on the campaign trail in El Paso. However, he did slip up and refer to El Paso as “Amarillo” at one point during his speech, not pausing even after the large crowd reacted.
Abbott had very little to say to El Pasoans about his promise to double border security spending to $300 million and put 500 more state troopers on the border. Instead he concentrated on gun rights, since the event was held in a gun store, and on his wife, Cecilia, becoming the first Hispanic first lady in Texas.
Meanwhile, a little further out on the East Side of El Paso on Monday, members of Democratic party’s regional “Get Out The Vote” campaign were preparing for a mass block walk for Democratic gubernatorial candidate Wendy Davis. ABC-7 spoke with “Get Out The Vote” regional director David Stout about Abbott’s late appearance in El Paso.
“I think he’s here because he’s seen how many times Sen. Davis has been here and she’s actually coming again in a couple of days,” Stout said. “She’ll be here on Halloween and I think it goes to show he’s trying to fight for some extra votes.”
ABC-7 also asked Abbott about the late campaign stop in El Paso.
“I’m fighting for every single vote in El Paso,” Abbott said. “I know we have a real chance of actually winning El Paso, just like we will win across the state of Texas.”
The only Republican gubernatorial candidate to ever win in El Paso was George W. Bush in 1998.
Early voting continues through Friday. Election day is Nov. 4. Other candidates for governor include Libertarian Kathie Glass and the Green party’s Brandon Parmer.
