SerpApi.Org
Texas Republican Senate nominee Ken Paxton abruptly ended his news conference on Tuesday after a reporter asked him questions about his past scandals.
Surrounded by men in cowboy hats, the Texan Republican was answering questions when the journalist tried to ask Paxton about the allegations. "I wanted to give you a chance to respond to State Representative Talarico and his campaign," the journalist said.
"They've made a lot about the reports that have come out, one in the New York Times about you acquiring properties worth nothing," the journalist said. Paxton attempted to diffuse the situation by asking reporters to keep to question about law enforcement.
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"So, Jack, can we keep this to law enforcement today?" the attorney general asked. However, the journalist was not deterred and told the AG that he was giving him "the opportunity to answer the question."
"I'd like to," Paxton added. "We're here with the sheriffs. I'd like to keep today to law enforcement."
According to the journalist, that was why he was asking the question. Before Paxton could respond, a Paxton official stepped in and moved on to another reporter.
"Will you answer a question about why you voted in Collin County?" another reporter shot at the Texas official. Once again, the Paxton official stepped in.
"So, we're just going to do questions on law enforcement today, because we're joined with 22 amazing law enforcement officers," she said. However, the official later changed her mind and ended the press conference.
"We're going to get out of here. Thank you, guys," she said as she attempted to push Paxton from the room. "We're going to get out of here. Thank you."
One annoyed person pointedly asked, "Can we not have more than one person answer a question?" which earned her a look from the official before she and Paxton walked off camera.
Paxton on the rise
The attorney general is currently enjoying a meteoric rise in popularity after trouncing incumbent John Cornyn in the primary and securing President Donald Trump's nomination. The nomination from Trump came late in the game for both Paxton and Cornyn, as the president sought to ramp up support for the SAVE America Act.
Two sources close to the White House said that the president had been prepared to endorse the incumbent, John Cornyn, after the senator reportedly outperformed expectations against Attorney General Ken Paxton in the Texas primary. Those close to the president reported that his anticipated endorsement was forestalled when the state AG announced that if the Senate passes the bill, he would end his campaign.
Trump's golden touch
"I think that was a very smart strategy, because it bought time," one of the sources told Politico in March. "Because now, if you’re the White House or Trump, why would you now weigh in?"
"Trump has remained very steadfast that he wants this done, and that is a huge priority, and he’s getting pissed off at these members and at [Senate Majority Leader John] Thune," they added. Paxton's last-ditch effort also highlighted the area in which he and Trump are aligned, while simultaneously poking the gaping wound between the president and Senate Republicans.
Just after it was announced that the Lone Star Republicans would face a runoff election in May, the president posted on Truth Social that he would announce his pick and expected the other candidate to drop out. "The Republican Primary Race for the United States Senate in the Great State of Texas, a State I LOVE and won 3 times in Record Numbers (the HIGHEST vote ever recorded, by far!!!), cannot, for the good of the Party, and our Country, itself, be allowed to go on any longer. IT MUST STOP NOW!" her wrote.
"We have an easy to beat, Radical Left Opponent, and we have to TOTALLY FOCUS on putting him away, quickly and decisively!", he warned. "Both John and Ken ran great races, but not good enough. Now, this one, must be PERFECT!"
Trump went on to claim that his "Endorsements within the Republican Party have been virtually insurmountable!" and "such an honor" that "almost everyone I Endorse WINS, and wins by a lot, especially in Texas!" He added, "I will be making my Endorsement soon, and will be asking the candidate that I don’t endorse to immediately DROP OUT OF THE RACE! Is that fair? We must win in November!!!"
