Texas Senator Ted Cruz may not want to underestimate the power of his challenger, Congressman Beto O’Rourke. There is no doubt that the Democrat knows how to draw a crowd. His rally in Austin Saturday night, alongside country superstar Willie Nelson, was one for the books. Newsweek writes:
Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Beto O’Rourke hosted the largest single-candidate political rally in the country since the 2016 presidential election, according to a report in the Wall Street Journal.
O’Rourke’s political rally was held Saturday alongside country music singer Willie Nelson in the outdoor Austin, Texas ampitheater, Auditorium Shores. Campaign estimates for attendance were all in excess of 50,000 people, with local estimates placing the number in attendance at around 55,000, making it the largest political rally for one candidate since at least 2016.
This is a campaign of people. All people. pic.twitter.com/4z8q8sEN75
— Beto O'Rourke (@BetoORourke) September 30, 2018
Just before the rally, O’Rourke promised to serve a full six-year term and no more than two terms if he is elected to the U.S. Senate, in the closing keynote of the Texas Tribune Festival at the Long Center.
In an interview before an adoring capacity crowd, O’Rourke also promised to stay positive in his bid to unseat U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, despite what he said were Cruz’s repeated efforts to distort his positions on issues from drug policy to the unequal application of justice in America.
One of the highlights of the night came as Beto O’Rourke joined Nelson on stage for “On The Road Again.”
After warming up the crowd of over 50,000 people and speaking about the importance of the Texas Attorney General race, I had an up-close view to some memorable performances. Here's @BetoORourke and @WillieNelson singing "On the Road Again." pic.twitter.com/R1wSNYrU05
— Justin Nelson (@JustinNelson_TX) September 30, 2018
Nelson also debuted a song called “Vote ‘Em Out:
“If you don’t like who’s in there vote ’em out. That’s what election day is all about. And the biggest gun we got is called the ballot box. If you don’t like who’s is there vote ’em out.”