Vance makes fiery closing pitch for Paxton: ‘Texas is not surrendering a damn thing’
The line about Texas not surrendering "a damn thing" is classic Paxton-style rhetoric, and Vance knows how to deliver it. This is a closing argument aimed squarely at the base, and it tells you where the campaign thinks the race stands. With days left, both sides are chasing turnout more than they're chasing converts.
The interesting thing to me is that Vance, as Vice President, is spending time in Texas at all. That suggests the race is closer than the state's recent history might indicate, or at least that Republicans are not taking anything for granted. Paxton has been a polarizing figure in Texas politics, with his legal troubles and his aggressive use of the attorney general's office, so a rally like this is partly about rallying the faithful and partly about projecting confidence.
I'd want to know how the crowd responded and whether this kind of appearance moves any undecided voters. Texas has been reliably red in recent cycles, but the margins have been tightening, and a Senate race here could be a real test of whether that trend continues. Either way, the fiery language tells you both parties see November 3rd as a genuine fight.