Rove says if Paxton doesn’t debate Talarico, ‘he loses’

Rove Warns Paxton Faces High Stakes Over a Debate With Talarico

Provpnadvice.com – Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s Senate campaign could face a serious setback if he declines to debate Democratic state Rep. James Talarico, Republican strategist Karl Rove said during a Wednesday discussion in Chicago.

Rove argued that Paxton needs to meet Talarico on a debate stage if he hopes to strengthen his position in a closely watched Texas race. Speaking with Democratic strategist David Axelrod at The Economic Club of Chicago, Rove framed the decision as a potentially decisive moment for the Republican candidate.

“If he doesn’t debate, I think he loses,” Rove said. “If he debates, the question is, is he going to be able to go on the offense?”

The warning reflects growing attention on Paxton’s willingness to debate. Talarico has repeatedly criticized his opponent for avoiding face-to-face encounters, including a recent challenge for a Fox News debate during an interview on CBS.

A Test of Paxton’s Political Approach

Axelrod suggested Paxton’s history makes a debate appearance far from certain. He noted that Paxton has not participated in a debate in 16 years and questioned whether the attorney general would be comfortable in that setting.

“There’s a reason he hasn’t debated in 16 years. He’s not adroit,” Axelrod said.

Rove countered that sharp debating skills may not be the central issue. In his view, Paxton’s larger challenge is deciding whether he is prepared to take the risk and confront his record directly before voters.

“You don’t need to be adroit in this,” Rove responded. “The question is, does he have the guts to do it?”

Rove said Paxton could use a debate to redirect attention from the controversies likely to be raised by Talarico. Rather than allowing criticism to dominate the exchange, Rove envisioned Paxton acknowledging attacks on his record and then accusing his rival of failing to discuss broader policy concerns.

That strategy would almost certainly involve Paxton’s 2023 impeachment. The Texas House voted to impeach him on corruption allegations, but the Texas Senate later acquitted him. The episode remains one of the most prominent elements of Paxton’s political history and would be expected to feature prominently in any debate between the candidates.

“I don’t know if he’s got the political moxie to say, ‘My future depends on me getting into a debate and coming out the winner,’” Rove said.

Polling Adds Pressure to the Decision

The debate question has gained added importance because early polling has shown a competitive contest. A September Fox News survey put Talarico ahead of Paxton by 2 points, a margin that fell within the poll’s 3-point margin of error. While that result did not establish a clear leader, it underscored that Paxton cannot assume an easy path in a state that has supported President Trump in each of his presidential campaigns.

The same poll showed a more substantial difference in the candidates’ favorability ratings among likely voters. Talarico posted an 8-point net positive rating, while Paxton stood 18 points underwater. Favorability figures do not determine an election outcome on their own, but they can shape the environment in which candidates make decisions about debates, advertising and public appearances.

For Paxton, a debate could offer an opportunity to address doubts directly and present his case to voters beyond campaign messaging. It would also create the possibility of a high-profile confrontation focused on impeachment, legal controversy and the candidates’ contrasting political styles. For Talarico, securing a debate would provide a major platform to press his arguments before a statewide audience.

Trump’s Uneven Praise for Paxton

Paxton has Trump’s endorsement, but the president has offered a mixture of support and blunt personal criticism during recent appearances in Texas and Oklahoma. Trump called Paxton “a pain in the a—” and described him as “a little controversial,” while also emphasizing Paxton’s loyalty during periods when Trump said he was being attacked by the “radical left.”

Trump’s Texas visit followed the emergence of an audio recording in which Paxton said the president’s Republican midterm convention in Dallas had “dropped our numbers.” A senior Paxton adviser dismissed that account as “manipulated nonsense.”

At the Dallas convention, Trump also made pointed remarks about Paxton’s appearance and manner, saying he did not like how the Senate candidate “dresses,” “talks” or “looks.” Even so, Trump praised him as “the greatest” attorney general in the country.

Those mixed messages highlight the balancing act facing Paxton as the campaign develops. Trump’s endorsement remains an important asset in Texas Republican politics, yet the attorney general must also persuade voters who may be concerned by his controversies or uncertain about his Senate candidacy. A debate with Talarico could become one of the clearest tests of whether Paxton can turn that complicated political profile into a winning statewide coalition.