Opinion: David Marcus Says Talarico's Dallas 'Firewall' Is Showing Cracks, With Thin Enthusiasm and Soft Support Among Black Voters
After talking with Dallas voters, Marcus writes that Democrat James Talarico lacks Beto-style excitement and may be lagging with Black voters. A GOP consultant admits Paxton's early vote worries him. These are the columnist's views.
A Fox News columnist reports from Dallas, the place Democrats must win big to carry Texas, and finds a mixed picture.
The method. Marcus spoke with voters around downtown Dallas. His conclusion: if Democrat James Talarico "cannot shore up the many votes he needs in Big D," Republican Ken Paxton could win enough red counties to keep the Senate in GOP hands.
Low enthusiasm. A lifelong Democrat and immigration attorney named Mark said, "This isn't like when Beto ran," and Marcus heard that line from others. Marcus suspects Mark will still vote Talarico, but with no excitement.
Black voters. Marcus calls Talarico's "lagging support in the Black community" a worrying sign. Two Black men he met, Jay and Darryl, disagreed about the result. Jay predicted Talarico would "kill it." Darryl said conservatives "don't march, they don't act up" but are "the silent majority." Both said Talarico's failure to mend fences with Rep. Jasmine Crockett, his primary opponent, is a problem, though Jay said she is "still helping, just down-ballot."
Some openings for Talarico. A hotel worker named Carlos said gas is "super expensive from the people who said there was not going to be a war" and that he does not feel represented. Marcus says that is good news for Talarico, since Carlos is open to Trump's pull, which has not happened.
Trouble for Paxton too. A suburban mother named Debbie said she has voted Democratic but finds that Talarico "just says so much crazy stuff." GOP consultant Vinny Minchillo said he does not like what he sees in Paxton's early vote, estimating Republicans are about 100,000 votes behind, and that Black early turnout "looks like it is down."
France. Marcus says the riots in France keep coming up, with one voter asking, "What if that was New York City, or D.C.?" He expects Republicans, especially at JD Vance's rallies, to keep pressing it.
Note for readers: this is opinion, built on a handful of conversations, not a poll. Marcus writes as a Fox columnist from West Virginia. The vote estimate is Minchillo's and he is a consultant, as Marcus notes.