Ex-Ted Cruz strategist: Beto O’Rourke’s ‘tremendous campaign’ is forcing GOP to divert funds from battleground states

The communications director for the unsuccessful 2016 presidential bid by Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) worried that the senator's increasingly tight reelection campaign is diverting GOP resources from must-win states.

"All the recent talk of a blue wave this November has given Democrats real hope to take back the House," MSNBC's Katy Tur noted Monday. "Republicans are still favored to hold the Senate. Or are they?"

Tur introduced MSNBC numbers-cruncher Steve Kornacki, who examined the growing momentum for the Democratic Party in U.S. Senate races.

"Let's talk about Texas, because it's been getting a lot of attention. Rick Tyler, you're the person to ask about this. The president's budget director said Cruz isn't likable enough, they are concerned he might lose. What's going on?" she asked.

"I think you have a candidate that's been a very interesting candidate and is run a tremendous campaign and he's raised a ton of money," Tyler said, in reference to Rep. Beto O'Rourke (D-TX), who is challenging Cruz.

"He's sort of electrified the left," Tyler admitted.

"I think Ted Cruz is likable enough and he should win," he argued.

"When you have Club for Growth and Americans for Prosperity and the resources from races they want to pick up on the Democratic side, moving that money and resources to Texas, that keeps the Republican Party from competing in other states," he noted.

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