Beto O’Rourke 2020 campaign megathread

[Rookie Yinzer]

Why have almost all of the primary candidates (other than Beto), contacted or had a meeting with Stacey Abrams?  And if all of the others have, wonder why Beto hasn't followed suit?

Per CNN- apparently most of the Senators have met with Abrams (probably around the same time when she was in Washington recently)... and Hickenlooper, Buttigieg, and maybe someone else have contacted her via a phone call?

Not that I really understand the need for Beto to call Abrams at this point considering he's in the middle of rolling out his campaign.  But I do think (especially given his likeability and seemingly ability to sort of win people over) Beto could benefit a good amount... from contacting a lot of the Dem Personalities , Politicians, etc ... as well as a many of the national media personalities/ players, etc.  This would help cut off much of the nonsense about Beto not yet having a 500 page policy dissertation written out yet.  It would be a lot harder to make these meaningless digs at Beto (or any candidate) after getting to know him via an in person meeting or an on-set interview, etc.  

Pete is really utilizing the valuable publicity that comes from becoming sort of a regular on the various cable news shows.  Hopefully, after Beto's kickoff rallies, he will also become a frequent guest on Cable News shows as well (this would put him in control of the Beto narrative on these show- in addition to gaining supporters from people watching).

Beto is currently scheduled to meet with Stacey during his first campaign stop in Georgia.

Link?

[Progressive Pessimist]

Calling Beto O'Rourke "Robert O'Rourke" is going to be the new version of calling the Democratic Party "the Democrat Party," isn't it? 

Don't forget "libtards." Conservatives are horrible at being clever with insults. And no Trump isn't good at it either, maybe like one out of every 10 are somewhat amusing.

[Grassroots]

Calling Beto O'Rourke "Robert O'Rourke" is going to be the new version of calling the Democratic Party "the Democrat Party," isn't it? 

Conservatives are horrible at being clever with insults.

Says the people that came up with "drumpf".

[Progressive Pessimist]

Calling Beto O'Rourke "Robert O'Rourke" is going to be the new version of calling the Democratic Party "the Democrat Party," isn't it? 

Conservatives are horrible at being clever with insults.

Says the people that came up with "drumpf".

That's not an insult though, it was his family name and it sounds silly.

[RI]

Calling Beto O'Rourke "Robert O'Rourke" is going to be the new version of calling the Democratic Party "the Democrat Party," isn't it? 

Conservatives are horrible at being clever with insults.

Says the people that came up with "drumpf".

That's not an insult though, it was his family name and it sounds silly.

You're defending someone complaining about literally using O'Rourke's given name.

[SCNCmod]

Calling Beto O'Rourke "Robert O'Rourke" is going to be the new version of calling the Democratic Party "the Democrat Party," isn't it? 

Yes. Rove has been doing it for a while now. Only he always uses the middle name too.

Robert Francis O'Rourke is pretty good as far as insults go.  It actually sounds pretty presidential.
as it will certainly make many think of-
Robert Francis Kennedy

[GoTfan]

Calling Beto O'Rourke "Robert O'Rourke" is going to be the new version of calling the Democratic Party "the Democrat Party," isn't it? 

Yes. Rove has been doing it for a while now. Only he always uses the middle name too.

Robert Francis O'Rourke is pretty good as far as insults go.  It actually sounds pretty presidential.
as it will certainly make many think of-
Robert Francis Kennedy

Agreed, but it's a bit on the nose, isn't it?

[SCNCmod]

Facebook event RSVPs:

El Paso - 1.8K going + 4.5K interested = 6.3K

Houston - 2K going + 7.4K interested = 9.4K

Austin - 2.9K going + 11K interested = 13.9K

Obviously an imperfect measure, but it does lend some insight. Expect numbers to change as we get closer to Saturday.

Not much to go by on Twitter. But there was a tweet that people could respond to yesterday. The responses to that tweet are:
El Paso: 900
Houston: 1,500
Austin: 1,500

(hopefully 75% of those who attend are people who do not indicate do so on Twitter/Face Book.  (or that each person responding has 3 family member going with them... like a wife and two kids or something)

Any updates on the number Beto is expecting on Saturday?

[Boobs]

Facebook event RSVPs:

El Paso - 1.8K going + 4.5K interested = 6.3K

Houston - 2K going + 7.4K interested = 9.4K

Austin - 2.9K going + 11K interested = 13.9K

Obviously an imperfect measure, but it does lend some insight. Expect numbers to change as we get closer to Saturday.

Any updates on the number Beto is expecting on Saturday?

Austin is now 3.4K going + 13k interested.
El Paso is 2.1K+5.3K
Houston is 2.2k+8.2k.

[Grassroots]

Any number on the watch parties? Anyone else going to one?

[Progressive Pessimist]

Calling Beto O'Rourke "Robert O'Rourke" is going to be the new version of calling the Democratic Party "the Democrat Party," isn't it? 

Conservatives are horrible at being clever with insults.

Says the people that came up with "drumpf".

That's not an insult though, it was his family name and it sounds silly.

You're defending someone complaining about literally using O'Rourke's given name.

Yeah but using it as an insult is just stupid and it doesn't even at least sound weird like "Drumpf" does. If Trump ends up debating O'Rourke and calls him Robert in hopes of getting applause, he'll be met with crickets and bewilderment instead by anyone who isn't already one of his sycophants.

[SCNCmod]

Any final predictions on attendance at Beto's rally in Austin (which I assume will be the largest of the 3)?

I'm optimistically predicting 25,000.

(with 11,000 in El Paso & 14,000 in Houston... This would give a total day of 50,000).

[riceowl]

I'm planning on going to the Houston one today.

[#TheShadowyAbyss]

 Beto once again not giving any substance in his speech at this kickoff rally

[Comrade Funk]

Beto once again not giving any substance in his speech at this kickoff rally

1.) It's a kickoff rally...not the time for a policy wonk speech.
2.) He's talking about UHC and abortion rights so again idk what you're talking about
3.) Now talking about living wage and unions. How is this different from Bernie's stump speech about millionaires and billionaires?

And like Bernie, Beto probably won't be able to get most of these things.

[Rookie Yinzer]

Beto once again not giving any substance in his speech at this kickoff rally

He’s talked about policies at every event he’s had since announcing. Y’all are hearing only what you want to hear.

[Warren 4 Secretary of Everything]

Beto once again not giving any substance in his speech at this kickoff rally

No one drops white papers at an announcement speech or in the opening weeks of a campaign. It took Obama months to release his first policies on health care and energy back in 2007. Stop concern trolling.

[#TheShadowyAbyss]

Beto once again not giving any substance in his speech at this kickoff rally

1.) It's a kickoff rally...not the time for a policy wonk speech.
2.) He's talking about UHC and abortion rights so again idk what you're talking about
3.) Now talking about living wage and unions. How is this different from Bernie's stump speech about millionaires and billionaires?

And like Bernie, Beto probably won't be able to get most of these things.

Yeah he talks about those issues but in the course of his campaign that's all he does is just talks doesn't get a specific policy proposals as to how he's going to fix the healthcare system or how he's going to push for Criminal Justice Reform Etc I don't understand how you Beto supporters can defend his lack of policy specifics when it comes to these issues.

If he could actually discuss how he wants to get these things done and what needs to be done to achieve those goals I would take him more seriously it's great that he talks about all the issues that we need to address but in the last couple of months he's never given a definitive answer on what needs to be done and he's on record having changed a lot of his positions

[Warren 4 Secretary of Everything]

Beto once again not giving any substance in his speech at this kickoff rally

1.) It's a kickoff rally...not the time for a policy wonk speech.
2.) He's talking about UHC and abortion rights so again idk what you're talking about
3.) Now talking about living wage and unions. How is this different from Bernie's stump speech about millionaires and billionaires?

And like Bernie, Beto probably won't be able to get most of these things.

Yeah he talks about those issues but in the course of his campaign that's all he does is just talks doesn't get a specific policy proposals as to how he's going to fix the healthcare system or how he's going to push for Criminal Justice Reform Etc I don't understand how you Beto supporters can defend his lack of policy specifics when it comes to these issues

Because it’s March 2019. If having specific and detailed policiy proposals was the be-all-end-all for you, you’d be supporting Warren.

[Comrade Funk]

Beto once again not giving any substance in his speech at this kickoff rally

1.) It's a kickoff rally...not the time for a policy wonk speech.
2.) He's talking about UHC and abortion rights so again idk what you're talking about
3.) Now talking about living wage and unions. How is this different from Bernie's stump speech about millionaires and billionaires?

And like Bernie, Beto probably won't be able to get most of these things.

Yeah he talks about those issues but in the course of his campaign that's all he does is just talks doesn't get a specific policy proposals as to how he's going to fix the healthcare system or how he's going to push for Criminal Justice Reform Etc I don't understand how you Beto supporters can defend his lack of policy specifics when it comes to these issues

I'm not a Beto supporter or a supporter of any presidential candidate for that matter. Does Bernie ever get into specifics when talking about how he will get the votes for his programs or how he will pay for it? No, because like Beto or any other presidential candidate, he says sh**t that sounds good. Warren is probably the best when it comes to actual policy.

[Rookie Yinzer]

Beto once again not giving any substance in his speech at this kickoff rally

1.) It's a kickoff rally...not the time for a policy wonk speech.
2.) He's talking about UHC and abortion rights so again idk what you're talking about
3.) Now talking about living wage and unions. How is this different from Bernie's stump speech about millionaires and billionaires?

And like Bernie, Beto probably won't be able to get most of these things.

Yeah he talks about those issues but in the course of his campaign that's all he does is just talks doesn't get a specific policy proposals as to how he's going to fix the healthcare system or how he's going to push for Criminal Justice Reform Etc I don't understand how you Beto supporters can defend his lack of policy specifics when it comes to these issues

Medicare for America is a policy proposal.

His five point plan for ending for profit private prisons is a policy proposal.

His ten point plan for immigration is a policy proposal.

The candidate on your signature doesn’t even have a policy section on his website.

[libertpaulian]

You can really feel the energy at this rally.  He's definitely going to be a force to be reckoned with. 

I have a feeling if this #Floresgate story has any legs and forces Biden out of running, Beto will pick up a lot of his prospective supporters.

[Rookie Yinzer]

Facebook event RSVPs:

El Paso - 1.8K going + 4.5K interested = 6.3K

Per his communications director:

https://twitter.com/ChrisEvans_TX/status/1112051444906110981

[Xing]

While I don't think crowd sizes can predict results, I do think that the candidate with larger crowd sizes is more likely to outperform their polling numbers, thus why I think Sanders may have a bigger advantage in some states than the polls suggest, and why Beto is probably in a stronger position than he appears to be in the polls.

[Grassroots]

The rally was great. He and his wife spoke very good and there was a huge amount of energy and enthusiasm. While my watch party was mostly full of middle aged women, it was still enjoyable regardless.