A new NBC News/Marist poll shows Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) as being 4 points ahead of his Democratic opponent, Congressman Beto O’Rourke.
The poll shows O’Rourke at 45 percent while Cruz is still ahead at 49 percent.
“Cruz has maintained a fairly strong favorability rating, with 49 percent of those surveyed viewing him favorably and 41 percent viewing him unfavorably,” writes Abby Livingston of the Texas Tribune.
“O’Rourke is far more unknown. Forty-one percent of respondents viewed him favorably while 23 percent of those surveyed had an unfavorable view. Thirty-six percent were either unsure of their opinion of O’Rourke or hadn’t heard of him.”
Livingston also cited O’Rourke’s television ad campaign as playing a critical role in whether or not he can catch up to Cruz’s lead.
“That there are so many remaining Texans who do not know who O’Rourke is suggests his television ad campaign strategy will be critical: He either has room to grow his support or room for Cruz’s campaign to negatively define him.”
However, Cruz said recently that he believes the only thing that could potentially hinder a win in the upcoming midterms is whether or not voters show up on election day.
“This election is a fundamental choice and I believe it’s going to come down to turnout,” he speculated.
In addition, the polling numbers also show Texas governor Greg Abbott (R-TX) enjoying the support of 56 percent of registered voters.
Abbott’s Democratic opponent, Lupe Valdez currently has the support of 37 percent of voters.
Because there has not been a statewide race won by a Texas Democrat since 1994, O’Rourke’s supporters still hold out hope that he will be able to overtake Cruz in the midterms.
An earlier August Quinnipiac University poll reported O’Rourke at 43 percent and Cruz at 49 percent where he is currently.
O’Rourke has so far been campaigning on coming together as a nation in order to move forward.
“At a time when this country has never been more divided, more polarized, more tribal, we need to come together and find out what we are going to do together,” he told a crowd of voters at a town hall meeting in August.
During an interview Wednesday, O’Rourke said he feels good about his campaign and about reaching voters all over Texas.
“However, the energy out there is absolutely electrifying and thrilling, so many good people from all walks of life, from both parties or no party at all, coming together, and no one is energized against another candidate or another party. What we’re excited about is what we are for, the big things we want to achieve.”
“I’m as hopeful and as encouraged as I’ve ever been in my life, and it could not happen at a better time for this country and for this state to have the opportunity to lead,” he concluded.
However, Cruz said this week that the fate of his campaign hangs on whether or not voters show up in the voting booth.
“Every penny that we raise is going to be used to mobilize, to energize, to turn out conservatives. If we turn conservatives out, we will win all of our races. If conservatives stay home, we’ll be in trouble,” he commented.
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