Texas Democrat James Talarico faced fresh questions Sunday over his absence from the campaign trail, with Republican rival Ken Paxton refusing to accept his flu explanation at face value as their Senate race enters its final weeks.
Talarico resurfaced at two music events over the weekend and gave interviews Sunday, blaming his illness for the gap in public appearances. Paxton remained skeptical.
“I don’t know whether to believe him about the flu or not, I just know that … almost everything that he says has been false since the beginning of this campaign,” the Texas attorney general told Fox News on Sunday evening.
The candidates are locked in a tight contest that could help determine control of the Senate.
Before his return, Talarico held a Texas press conference Sept. 26, followed by private fundraising stops in New York City. A campaign source said he attended a Sept. 28 fundraiser featuring actor Robert De Niro. His campaign said he attended a second private fundraiser Sept. 29.
On Sept. 30, Talarico appeared virtually at a United States Hispanic Business Council event he had been scheduled to attend in person. He disclosed a flu diagnosis, saying he had felt sick and visited an urgent care facility in Dallas.
Talarico said he continued working from home and meeting with his team over Zoom while recovering.
Republicans seized on his absence from the trail. At a San Antonio rally Wednesday, Paxton led the crowd in a “Where is James Talarico” chant. His campaign also posted that the Democrat was “nowhere to be seen.”
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President Donald Trump joined in, calling Talarico “MISSING IN ACTION” on Truth Social.
By Friday, Talarico was speaking with attendees at the Austin City Limits music festival. Saturday brought another appearance, this time in the front row of a Kacey Musgraves concert in Dallas.
On Sunday, Talarico vented about the speculation.
“I had the flu. This is the craziest thing I’ve ever heard. It’s wild that someone can just post something on the internet and then the media just runs with it,” he told MS NOW.
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An unverified claim that Talarico was receiving treatment for a stress-induced episode had also circulated in conservative circles online. His campaign and the mental health center named in the claim both said it was false.
“That’s not true. I just had the flu and feel much better. But it’s a good reminder that you can’t believe everything you read on the internet,” Talarico told NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth on Sunday.
Talarico then tried to turn the scrutiny back on Paxton.
After calling the speculation “silly season in our politics” during his MS NOW interview, the Democrat mocked his opponent.
“I’ve heard credible reports that Ken Paxton has a serious medical condition that causes clinical levels of cowardice,” Talarico joked. “He has asked for proof of life from me, I’m asking for proof of spine from him.”
Talarico’s next scheduled televised appearance is a Wednesday evening town hall in Fort Worth hosted by CNN and Jubilee Media and moderated by Erin Burnett. The outlets have also extended an invitation to Paxton.
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[ H/T Trending Politics ]
