‘I had the flu’: Talarico returns to campaign trail and dismisses theories about absence
By Austin Culpepper, CNN
(CNN) — Texas Democratic Senate nominee James Talarico on Sunday denounced the wide-ranging speculation about his whereabouts in recent days as Republicans seized on his absence from the campaign trail.
“I had the flu. This is the craziest thing I’ve ever heard. It’s wild that someone can just post something on the internet and then the media just runs with it,” Talarico told MS NOW.
The state representative, who is locked in a tight contest with Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, said he had been working from home as he recovered and meeting with his team via Zoom. Talarico returned to public events over the weekend, seen speaking to attendees at the Austin City Limits music festival on Friday and in the front row of a Kacey Musgraves concert in Dallas on Saturday.
Paxton and his allies, however, have zeroed in on the Democrat’s absence during the final stretch of a race that could be critical to determining control of the Senate.
At a rally in San Antonio on Wednesday, the GOP Senate nominee started a “Where is James Talarico” chant in the crowd. Paxton’s campaign also published a flurry of social media posts claiming Talarico is “nowhere to be seen.” President Donald Trump has also chimed in, describing Talarico as “MISSING IN ACTION” in a Truth Social post.
A claim also circulated in conservative circles online that Talarico was receiving treatment for a stress-induced episode.
“That’s not true. I just had the flu and feel much better. But it’s a good reminder that you can’t believe everything you read on the internet,” Talarico told NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth on Sunday.
Talarico revealed he had been diagnosed with the flu on September 30 during a virtual appearance at the United States Hispanic Business Council, an event he was supposed to attend in person. He said he had started to feel under the weather and visited urgent care in Dallas.
Before his reemergence this weekend, his last in-person campaign appearances took place on September 26, when he held a press conference in Texas and then on September 28, when a Talarico campaign source said the candidate attended a private fundraiser in New York City featuring actor Robert DeNiro.
In his interview with MS NOW on Sunday, he dismissed the speculation that there was another reason for his absence as “silly season in our politics” before turning the focus to Paxton, who has yet to agree to a debate.
“I’ve heard credible reports that Ken Paxton has a serious medical condition that causes clinical levels of cowardice,” Talarico joked. “He has asked for proof of life from me, I’m asking for proof of spine from him.”
Talarico’s return to the campaign trail comes ahead of a town hall on Wednesday evening hosted by CNN and Jubilee Media and moderated by Erin Burnett, live in Fort Worth, Texas. The media outlets have also extended a town hall invitation to Paxton.
This story has been updated with additional details.
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