Texas Senate race heats up with result a 'toss up' between Ted Cruz and Beto O'Rourke
The crucial Texas Senate midterm race between Senator Ted Cruz and Democrat Beto O’ Rourke is now a “toss up” according to an influential poll aggregator.
The Cook Political Report, a newsletter which analyses elections, campaigns, and polling data, had previously labelled the race as “leans Republican” towards the incumbent Mr Cruz.
Mr O’Rourke is widely considered an insurgent and energetic opponent, raising millions more in campaign funds than Mr Cruz.
The Texas Tribune reported Mr O’Rourke’s campaign team has raised $23.6m (£18m) to Mr Cruz’s $15.6m (£12) between January 2017 and 31 July 2018.
In other words, Mr O’Rourke has raised more money than any other Democratic candidate in the 2018 midterms election.
The El Paso native who began his own internet services and software company after working in New York for several years was a virtual unknown outside of Texas until a few months ago, compared to Mr Cruz who competed for the Republican nomination in the 2016 presidential race.
The left-leaning Public Policy Polling found Mr Cruz with just a three-point lead over current House member Mr O’Rourke.
However, a poll conducted by Reuters/Ipsos gave a two-point lead to Mr O’Rourke.
The Quinnipiac poll, on the other hand, gave a heftier nine-point lead to Mr Cruz.
An average of the polling results, compiled by RealClearPolitics, does give the Republican incumbent a 4.5 per cent lead.
The candidates are set to square off with their first debate on 21 September.
Mr O’Rourke is expected to hit the campaign trail with fellow US House member Joaquin Castro and his twin brother Julian, former Secretary of Housing and Urban Development in what experts have said is a way to gain more votes in the Hispanic community by the Spanish-speaking Mr O’Rourke
