A new Quinnipiac University poll shows Texas GOP Governor Greg Abbott absolutely crushing gubernatorial Democratic candidate Beto O’Rourke among registered voters by a whopping 15 points, 52%-37%.
Quinnipiac University Polling Analyst Tim Malloy pointed out, “How far behind is Beto O’Rourke? 15 points is more than your typical two touchdown deficit in football and an even bigger hole in the game of politics.”
Among Republicans, Abbott leads 90%-5% while Independents prefer Abbott 47%-37%. Democrats went for O’Rourke 87%-6%.
Fifty-two percent of voters viewed Abbott favorably with 42% viewing him unfavorably. O’Rourke was underwater; 36% viewed him favorably with 42% viewing him unfavorably. Fifty-four percent of voters found O’Rourke too liberal; 41% of voters found Abbott too conservative.
While 55% of voters thought Abbott was honest, only 45% thought the same of O’Rourke. While 57% of voters felt Abbott cared about average Texans, only 45% felt that way about O’Rourke. Sixty percent of voters thought Abbott had good leadership skills; only 49% agreed with that when it came to O’Rourke.
Sixty percent felt Abbot was better dealing with the economy; only 32% voted for O’Rourke. Fifty-eight percent felt Abbott better equipped to handle the immigration issues at the southern border, which voters felt was the most urgent issue by far; only 35% went for O’Rourke. Fifty-five percent preferred Abbott to deal with election laws; 40% preferred O’Rourke. Fifty-four percent preferred Abbott dealing with a response to the coronavirus: 39% voted for O’Rourke.
O’Rourke, who once said prior to announcing his campaign for president, “Man, I’m just born to be in it,” announced his candidacy in mid-November saying he intended to “serve ALL of the people of Texas.”
The Daily Wire noted at the time:
Soon after O’Rourke’s official campaign announcement on Monday, the Republican Governors Association put out a statement warning Texas voters about policies that O’Rourke has promoted in the past including a restriction of “assault weapons” and revocation of the tax-exempt status of religious organizations who don’t support same-sex marriage.
While on the campaign trail for president, O’Rourke declared, “ “Hell, yes, we’re gonna take your AR-15.”
“Texas voters have already rejected Beto O’Rourke for statewide office, and they’ll do so again now that they know just how radical he really is,” said RGA spokesperson Joanna Rodriguez.
She continued, “Beto 2.0 vowed to confiscate the firearms of law-abiding citizens, pledged to tear down physical barriers along the border, and supported regulations that would kill over a million jobs across the state and raise taxes and the cost of living on families and small businesses. There’s no telling how far Beto 3.0 will go in his vain attempt to stay relevant after running out of promotions to chase in Washington.”
When O’Rourke hinted he might run for governor, after losing a Senate race to Senator Ted Cruz and launching an abortive presidential campaign, Abbott commented, “You’re talking about a person who says they want to run for governor who said, ‘Heck yes,’ he’s gonna come and take your guns. Heck yes, he’s for open borders. Heck yes, he’s for killing the energy sector and fossil fuels in the state of Texas. I don’t think that’s gonna sell real well,” as the Texas Tribune reported.