Vicente Fox endorses Beto O’Rourke in Texas Senate race

Former Mexican President Vicente Fox on Thursday endorsed Democratic Senate candidate Beto O’Rourke in his bid to unseat Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) in the Texas Senate race. 

“@BetoORourke, what a candidate you are! You not only understand America, you know about humanity,” Fox tweeted with a corresponding video of him praising the congressman. 

“This is what the U.S. needs: someone compassionate yet firm. I stand with you because I believe you’re what America needs.”

.@BetoORourke, what a candidate you are! You not only understand America, you know about humanity. This is what the U.S. needs: someone compassionate yet firm. I stand with you because I believe you’re what America needs. pic.twitter.com/xccqvXFfk9

— Vicente Fox Quesada (@VicenteFoxQue) October 19, 2018

Fox, who served as president of Mexico from 2000 to 2006, added in a video he recorded that he hopes every Hispanic in Texas votes for O’Rourke this November. 

“You deserve it because you’re going to respond to the hope and expectations of Texas,” he added. 

Fox’s comments come roughly three weeks before the general election, as O’Rourke tries to become the first Democrat to be elected to the Senate in Texas in three decades. 

While O’Rourke has gained notable attention in his bid, polls have shown Cruz with a solid lead over the three-term congressman. 

A new poll from CNN released this week showed Cruz had a seven-point lead over O’Rourke. The survey found that O’Rourke holds a 62 to 35 percent lead over Cruz among Hispanic voters. 

Meanwhile, Cruz has a 2-to-1 advantage among white voters, according to the poll.

The nonpartisan Cook Political Report rates the race as “toss up.”