"We have a very real opportunity": Democrats think they can take down Ted Cruz and Rick Scott

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: Salon

Published October 4, 2024 4:09PM (EDT)


Democrats said Friday that they are going on the offensive in two red states, Florida and Texas, confident that their candidates can credibly challenge incumbent Republican senators. Speaking on a press call, Sen. Gary Peters, D-Mich., head of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, said the party is convinced that Sens. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and Rick Scott, R-Fla., are vulnerable this November.

“We have very real opportunity in both Texas and Florida,” Peters told reporters, detailing a multi-million dollar investment in the races by the DSCC. “If you look at those two states, our challengers are running against unpopular Republican incumbents who have very weak polling, and right now, our challengers are surging. We’ve got momentum.”

In Texas, recent polls show Democratic challenger Colin Allred around 3-4% behind Cruz, within the margin of error. In Florida, Democrat Debbie Mucarsel-Powell trails Scott by roughly the same amount.

Peters stressed that Democrats have an uphill climb ahead of them but that the party believes the races in these states can be won, which would go a long way to ensuring the U.S. Senate remains in Democratic control next year. His comments come after the Democratic National Committee recently announced it was transferring millions of dollars to state parties, an investment made possible by the party's record-breaking fundraising since Harris ascended to the top of the presidential ticket.

Read more: https://www.salon.com/2024/10/04/we-have-a-very-real-opportunity-democrats-think-they-can-flip-senate-seats-in-texas-and-florida/

[msongs]

1. how many actual votes is 3 to 4 percent, half a million? nt

[NBachers]

2. On the strength of this article, I just donated 50 bucks to the DSCC. Here is a link:

https://secure.actblue.com/donate/dscc-1

[Skittles]

3. gawd, those two smarmy fucks

would LOVE to see them trashed

[AllaN01Bear]

16. and the current gov of fla go bye bye too also.

[ancianita]

4. If money is what it takes to bring those two down, I've done my part to help Allred and Mucarsel-Powell.

Merits and not money should make the difference, but we're talking TX and FL here.

[BumRushDaShow]

5. I have at least heard a lot of "anecdotal" reports about what is going on in FL

including enthusiasm increases in places like The Villages, etc., but have heard very little about the "ground game" in TX.

I guess it's because it is such a sprawly state with lots of sprawly cities. I do know there are quite a few who are pissed off at Carnival Cruz but would still vote for 45, and that connection is what might need to be broken where they either leave the Senate option blank or vote for Allred (or someone else), to give Allred a better chance.

I remember how hard Beto tried in 2 different elections there but was unable to break through, let alone get whole swaths of non-voters to actually vote.

[ancianita]

6. Same.

Agree. If enthusiasm translates into increased GOTV, there's hope that we'll win where Beto didn't.

[BumRushDaShow]

7. I did actually just see an OP this morning that gives hope!

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100219535417

[Mysterian]

8. How joyous that would be

I will never understand the mindset of people who would vote for a cowardly fool like Cruz.

[bucolic_frolic]

9. Cruz is a blend of pathetic loser traits

Nerd, beer belly, mutton chops, slow-minded. He could play a middle-age mom's basement IT nerd geek without even changing his clothes.

Scott is just disgusting.

[republianmushroom]

10. Hopefully it happens.

[thesquanderer]

11. This could be especially important considering what's happening in Wisconsin

See: https://politicalwire.com/2024/10/03/democrats-suddenly-worried-about-wisconsin-senate-race/

And bonus: people who feel more motivated in Florida to come out and vote Dem due to a close Senate race can also help tip the state toward Kamala, something that is still considered unlikely but not necessarily impossible. (Texas would be too much to hope for! )

[Midnight Writer]

12. If Scott and Cruz lose, nobody would be happier than Moscow Mitch.

As added incentive to defeat Scott, he is positioning himself to be Senate Majority Leader if he wins re-election. If you think McConnell is an ass, wait until you get a taste of Scott's leadership.

[NowsTheTime]

13. It's pretty much imperative if we want the Senate!

[JoseBalow]

14. My new Colin Allred merch...

https://store.colinallred.com/

[ananda]

15. Oh, please make it so Dems!

They will also have help from Republicans.