Democrat James Talarico plans to open the final stretch of his U.S. Senate campaign in Plano on Sunday evening, kicking off a statewide bus tour one day after Republican Ken Paxton launched his own in Rockwall.
Talarico's campaign calls its swing the "Clear Eyes, Full Hearts Tour," after the motto from the Texas high school football drama "Friday Night Lights." The campaign announced Sunday evening in Plano as the starting point, according to KWTX, but the published reports did not give a time or venue for the event.
In announcing the tour, Talarico said Texans are tired of being sorted into opposing camps by party, ideology and geography, and that the trip is meant to bring "working people onto one team."
From Plano, the schedule released by his campaign lists stops in Denton and Fort Worth on Monday, the first day of early voting, followed by Texarkana, Tyler, Houston, Fort Bend, Beaumont, Galveston, San Antonio, Laredo, Weslaco, El Paso, Lubbock, College Station and Temple.
The Dallas Morning News reported he is scheduled back in Dallas on Oct. 29, with a closing rally set for Austin on Nov. 2.
Paxton's tour
Paxton, the state's attorney general, started his "Come and Take It" tour Saturday at Rockwall Municipal Airport, where about 200 supporters turned out, the Morning News reported. Paxton said Talarico threatens Texas values, naming Christianity, ranching and the oil and gas business, and asked the crowd to cast early ballots and bring friends along.
Paxton's 18-day trip is planned to include Allen, Fort Worth, Houston and El Paso among more than 30 stops, according to his campaign and The Texas Tribune, before a final stop at the Alamo on Nov. 2. In his tour announcement, Paxton accused Talarico of being "bankrolled by national Democrats and Silicon Valley billionaires" and said, "He won't fight for you. He'll fight for them."
