Trump campaign: ‘Texas is not in play’

President Donald Trump’s campaign released a statement on Tuesday in response to Democratic nominee Joe Biden launching his first general election TV ad in Texas. Democrats believe the Lone Star State is going to be competitive this year based on polling that shows Biden leading in some cases. This isn’t the first time Democrats have had high hopes in Texas though.

“Democrats like to pretend Texas is on the table, but they know that’s a joke just ask Gov. Wendy Davis, Sen. Beto O’Rourke, and President Hillary Clinton,” Trump’s campaign said in a statement.

The campaign said Biden’s ad buy in Texas is a laughable attempt to get the media to write that he’s invested in the state.

“The ad buy will get him absolutely zero traction in Texas,” said the campaign. “It’s complete nonsense.”

The ad airing in Texas is titled “Tough” and features Biden speaking to voters and encouraging them at a time when coronavirus cases are surging.

Biden’s campaign says the ad will air in Texas, Arizona, Florida and North Carolina. They say it’s a chance for the former vice president to speak directly to Americans who are scared and looking for leadership during a time of crisis.

“This is the first time during the general election that our campaign is spending on the air and online in the Lone Star State,” the Biden campaign said.

The Trump campaign pointed out several recent campaigns where Democrats claimed they were going to be successful in Texas. In 2018, Beto O’ Rourke (D) was defeated by incumbent Sen. Ted Cruz (R) after his nationally watched race raised more than $80 million. O’Rourke went on to run an unsuccessful campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination. In 2016, several publications suggested that Hilary Clinton could win Texas but Trump easily defeated her by 9 points.  

Trump campaign leaders praised their ground game in Texas saying they have made nearly 2 million voter contacts, held over 500 Trump Victory Leadership Initiative trainings with more than 4,000 attendees, and held nearly 450 MAGA Meet-Ups with nearly 6,000 attendees.

The latest RealClearPolitics average has Biden and Trump tied at 45 percent in Texas. A Fox News poll conducted last month indicated that Texas is a tossup, as Biden led Trump by a single percentage point, 45-44 percent.

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