(DALLAS MORNING NEWS) -- HOUSTON -- President Donald Trump and other friends of Sen. Ted Cruz turned Rep. Beto O'Rourke into a piñata Monday night, revving Texas Republicans to form a firewall for the national party -- and block Democrats from transforming Texas into a political extension of California.
"Ted's opponent in this race is a stone cold phony named Robert Francis O'Rourke, sometimes called Beto. ...He's actually a radical open borders left winger," Trump said. "O'Rourke voted against your tax cuts and he went against oil workers... O'Rourke supports a socialist takeover of healthcare. You're going to triple your taxes and it won't be enough."
Trump marveled at O'Rourke's "F" rating from the NRA. "An F means he wants to take away your guns," he said at a noisy, rollicking rally in downtown Houston, with supporters waving red "Make America Proud Again" signs, many in red "Make America Great Again" caps. "If Ted doesn't win your Second Amendment's going to be in trouble."
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