Polarizing Fox News commentator and host Jesse Watters this week said Ken Paxton, Texas’ Republican attorney general, should “seek asylum in Mexico” if he loses his U.S. Senate bid to Democrat James Talarico.
“This cannot happen,” Watters said Wednesday as he melted down over the prospect of scandal-plagued Paxton becoming the first Republican in more than three decades to lose to a Democrat in a statewide race in Texas.
Watters’ panic attack comes as recent polls over the past two weeks, including one by his employer, have shown Talarico with a two- to five-point lead over Paxton. Those results come with less than 100 days until Election Day.
Worse, Paxton appears to have only recently started actively campaigning. The AG launched his “Protecting the Texas Promise” tour this month, and it’s already hit choppy waters.
“You’ve got to hit him on the issues, and Paxton should be doing that,” Watters said. “Where’s Paxton? I’ve seen Mitch McConnell more than Paxton, and McConnell’s been in the hospital all summer. Get out of your hole, Paxton, and do something. I can’t win this race for you. It’s not on Fox. Go raise some money, do a hit and lay the lumber into this guy.”
Paxton’s already scandal-ridden campaign has faced one controversy after another this summer. First, the candidate was spotted with his alleged mistress in Europe, then a joint Texas Tribune-ProPublica probe suggested he may have committed voter fraud.
A bombshell New York Times report also revealed that Paxton owns 15 real estate properties valued at a combined $9 million, despite earning only $150,000 annually. He still hasn’t answered reporters’ questions about how he managed to acquire so many lavish properties on a public servant’s salary.
Adding to the sting, Talarico out-fundraised Paxton by a 3-to-1 margin during the most recent cycle, with many major Republican donors sitting on the sidelines or choosing to sink resources into other races.
Paxton will be at San Antonio’s Republican-themed Angry Elephant bar this Saturday as part of his statewide tour.
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