Sen. Ted Cruz's warning to Republicans that state Rep. James Talarico could claim victory in a contentious Texas race spurred uproarious laughter on MS NOW early Friday morning.
Cruz's dire words on the Sean Hannity Show Wednesday night centered on Talarico's chance to defeat the state's Attorney General Ken Paxton in the race to claim a seat in the Senate.
"Texas is a mess!" declared political analyst and Republican strategist Mathew Bartlett. "We're kinda lucky more people aren't paying attention."
Host Ali Vitali threw back her head and laughed out loud as Bartlett named the reason for that luck: the focus on Graham Platner's withdrawal from his own Senate race in Maine.
Bartlett also noted the strange timing of Paxton's antics, noting he was seen abroad the same week America celebrated its 250th anniversary.
Paxton was recently caught on video walking in the streets of London with a woman who is not his wife and facing questions about an address where he did not live that was used while voting in six elections in the past two years, including in May’s runoff, reports show.
"He's in London with the new girl he's dating?" Bartlett asked. "What's going on there? He has more baggage than a 747."
Paxton's actions spurred Cruz to tell Gov. Greg Abbott (R-TX) that "unfortunately," there was a chance they would not be able to "keep Texas red."
"I think this is a one or two point race," Cruz said.
MS NOW host Ali Vitali joked in response, "I love that Ted Cruz has now become the truth-teller."
Watch the interview here.
