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topicnews · October 16, 2024

Ted Cruz and Colin Allred argue about abortion and borders in the US Senate debate

Ted Cruz and Colin Allred argue about abortion and borders in the US Senate debate

The exchanges were sometimes personal, as the two candidates seeking to represent Texas in the U.S. Senate were having their only debate of the campaign.

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Republican incumbent Ted Cruz and his Democratic challenger Colin Allred met Tuesday evening in Dallas for their only debate before the Nov. 5 U.S. Senate election. They went head-to-head on a number of issues, but most fiercely on abortion and illegal immigration.

Their rhetoric was often both personal and accusatory, despite the warm opening handshake and the fact that each candidate slapped the other on the bicep. The debate took place three weeks before the election and less than a week before early voting began in Texas.

As Allred began his one-minute opening statement, he wasted no time reminding viewers on television or a livestream that Cruz took a brief vacation to the Mexican resort city of Cancun in February 2021, when Texas was in the midst of one of its deadliest winter storms in history.

Cruz, seeking his third six-year term, wanted to join Allred in leading President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, the 2024 presidential candidate, and their immigration and border security policies.

At one point, Cruz even said, “Colin Allred is Kamala Harris.”

Cruz repeatedly name-dropped former President Donald Trump, the Republican presidential nominee. Allred never mentioned the names Biden or Harris.

The fireworks began with the abortion

Allred, who is giving up his seat representing Dallas in the U.S. House of Representatives to run for the Senate, blamed Cruz for supporting the repeal of the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade decision, which upheld abortion rights confirmed with a few exceptions. Cruz said he believes the 2022 U.S. Supreme Court decision leaving abortion policy to the states is the right path.

“You should look into the camera and talk to Kate Cox, who is watching right now, and explain to her why you said that this law that you said was completely reasonable, why she was forced to leave her two children behind and out “To flee our state to get the care she needed,” Allred said to Cruz, standing a few feet to his left in the studio of Dallas television station WFAA, which hosted the event.

Cox, who suffered complications during her pregnancy that threatened her future fertility, was an active Allred supporter and was featured in his final television commercial.

Cruz said that while the issue has been controversial for decades, “there is also a lot of consensus” in Texas, such as regulating late-term abortions and requiring parents to be involved in any decision when a minor terminates a pregnancy want. He accused Allred of being against both, but refrained from answering directly the question of whether rape or incest should be exceptions to the state’s abortion ban.

Allred, who is aiming to be the first Texas Democrat in 30 years to win a statewide election, said he supports a federal law that would essentially adopt the limitations of the Roe decision.

Cruz and Allred parry over border policy

Immigration, particularly the contrast between the policies of the Trump and Biden administrations, gave Cruz the opportunity to go on the offensive.

“He calls the border wall, quote, ‘that racist border wall,’ and he personally tears down that racist border wall,” Cruz said of Allred, referencing a quote from the Democrat early in his political career. “He voted against the border wall, not once, not twice, but three times. Every time there is a serious measure in the House here on the border, Colin Allred votes no.”

More: Ted Cruz attacks Biden’s immigration policies at the Republican National Convention

Allred tried to turn the tables by pointing out that Cruz had voted “no” on a bipartisan border security bill earlier this year.

“I have a simple question for you,” Allred said to Cruz. “The $20 billion for 1,000 new border agents, for 100 new immigration judges, for 4,000 asylum staff, to help us develop technology to intercept fentanyl coming across the border – why didn’t you vote for it ?”

It was a reference to a law that Trump urged Republicans to reject because it might have given the Biden administration an election victory on an issue seen as a weak point for Democrats.

Cruz countered that Trump’s approach to the border has proven better.

“Working with President Trump, we have achieved the lowest rate of illegal immigration in 45 years,” he said. “He didn’t address it. He also didn’t address that it didn’t take long for Joe Biden, Kamala Harris and Colin Allred to breach the border.”

Who was where on January 6th?

When the debate moderator asked Cruz why he appeared to have toned down his early rhetoric that the attempted insurrection on January 6, 2021 at the U.S. Capitol was an act of terrorism intended to undermine the president’s transition of power from Trump to Biden, the Republican changed his response, noting that police organizations with thousands of members have supported his re-election bid.

“I have spent 12 years fighting to defend the men and women of law enforcement,” Cruz said. “That’s why I was supported by the leaders of organizations and over 44,000 law enforcement officers. That’s why I was endorsed by Harris County Democratic District Attorney Kim Ogg.”

Cruz was among the members of Congress who voted against certifying Biden’s victory after order was restored at the Capitol on January 6, 2021.

More: ‘This is our house and we will protect it’: Lawmakers prepared to fight or be killed as the Trump Mafia attacked the US Capitol

Allred lunged at Cruz, noting that he was on the House floor as the rioters advanced through the Capitol. At the time, Allred was just beginning his second term in Congress after retiring from NFL linebacker and becoming a civil rights attorney.

“I texted my wife Ali – who was seven months pregnant with our son Cameron and at home with our son George, who wasn’t yet 2 years old – saying, ‘Whatever happens, I love you,'” he said . “I took off my suit jacket and was ready to defend the House of Representatives from the mob.

“When the mob came, Senator Cruz hid in a supply closet.”

Transgender athletes and locker rooms

In recent weeks, Cruz has run television and digital ads accusing Allred of supporting legislation that would allow boys and men to compete against girls and women in high school athletics and for eliminating separate locker rooms.

“He is a co-sponsor and voted for a bill called the Equality Act,” Cruz said. “The Equality Act requires boys to be allowed into the girls’ toilets, their changing rooms and their changing rooms. He voted for it.”

Allred said Cruz misrepresented the intent of the bill and called the matter a late campaign distraction as polls suggested a close race.

“You don’t have to be a former NFL linebacker to recognize a Hail Mary when you see one,” Allred said, referring to a late-game tactic in which a quarterback throws a long pass in the hopes that it will leading to a game-changing touchdown. “This is a desperate last-second attempt by Senator Cruz to distract you because he cannot defend his record.”

Where the Cruz-Allred race takes place three weeks before Election Day

On Tuesday morning, the University of Houston Hobby School of Public Affairs released a poll showing Cruz leading Allred 50% to 46%.

Here are some key survey results:

  • Cruz has a 15 percentage point lead over Allred among men, 56% to 41%.
  • Among women, Allred has a 7 percentage point lead over Cruz, 51% to 44%.
  • Cruz leads Allred by 22 percentage points — 60% to 38% — among likely white voters.
  • Allred leads Cruz by 62 percentage points — 78% to 16% — among likely black voters.
  • Among likely Latino voters, Allred leads Cruz 48% to 45%.

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