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Joe Kennedy III, representative of Massachusetts, joined Beto O 'Rourke for a campaign event in Corpus Christi on Saturday October 13, 2018.
Meagan Falcon, Corpus Christi

Beto O 'Rourke was greeted with a standing ovation while he was skating on the stage of the Richardson Performance Hall at Del Mar College on Saturday.

The fans shouted his name in unison as their cheers echoed throughout the hall.

"Thank you all for being here," said O & Rourke. "It's so good to be back."

The Democratic nominee to the US Senate was joined by Massachusetts Congressman Joe Kennedy III, grand nephew of President John F. Kennedy, for a campaign event in Corpus Christi.

In one Live video on Facebook, we see Kennedy driving O 'Rourke to the rally of Del Mar College where hundreds of people have gathered to hear him talk.

His campaign momentum in Coastal Bend comes before the final debate with Cruz on Tuesday in San Antonio, and before his solo appearance during a public discussion in McAllen on Thursday night, which will be broadcast live on CNN. Cruz declined the invitation to attend a separate public meeting of CNN, but then asked to participate in Thursday's event with O & Rourke.

There was no agreement for a common appearance on the cable network.

More: Debates Beto-Cruz: How to follow the debate of Tuesday in San Antonio

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The US representative, Beto O. Rourke, will speak in front of supporters at a campaign event on Saturday October 13, 2018, at Del Mar College in Corpus Christi. (Photo: Casey Jackson / Caller-Times)

O'Rourke will need a high turnout from the Democrats of South Texas and the populous urban centers of the state.

"We are back exactly where we want to be … Corpus Christi, a city that has shown us so much love … so kind, so warm, so welcoming," he said. "This is our sixth visit … and we want to go back and make sure everyone here knows we want to represent them …"

"Republicans, Democrats, Independents … Not me, everyone is important."

During the event, O 'Rourke spoke about immigration policies, education, health care and "dreamers", based on unpublished proposals of Congress called DREAM law. Act, which would have provided young immigrants with protections similar to those of the DACA. the voting booths on November 6th.

"You can have this Republican mother or brother who has not voted for 22 years because he thinks it does not matter anymore in a state that ranks 50th. voter turnout, "he said. "… for them, I want to make sure you go to bed … in ten days before we start voting … they should vote and vote with us."

Two recent polls – one from the New York Times and the other from Quinnipiac University – show Republican Ted Cruz outgoing Republican in training by 9 percentage points.

More: & # 39; Does the Beto bubble burst? says new survey director Ted Cruz, Beto O 'Rourke

The gap, wider than several polls at the beginning of the campaign, indicates a race as tight as a few percentage points, despite the proven prowess of Mr. O. Rourke as a fundraiser and his demonstrated ability to attract money. attention of national figures, including Kennedy and Stephen Colbert, Ellen DeGeneres and Julia Louis Dreyfus.

O & # 39; Rourke announced Friday on Twitter that the campaign had raised a record $ 38.1 million in three months out of 802,836 contributions.

Cruz said he raised more than $ 12 million over the same period, which represents a significant increase in contributions paid before the midterm elections, but far from O'Rourke's latest feat.

More: Beto O 'Rourke Raises $ 38 Million Against Ted Cruz Before Mid-Term Elections

"This will give us the resources to carry out this campaign as hard as possible. That's more than three times the amount collected by Ted Cruz, not just for his campaign, but for all the affiliated political action committees that contribute to his work. campaign, "said O & # Rourke in an article published on social media.

"We are doing something quite historic, not just making sure we have the resources to run and win, but to ensure that our democracy is fueled again by people and only by people," he said. he declared.

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US Representative Beto O. Rourke takes photos with supporters after a campaign on Saturday October 13, 2018 at Del Mar College in Corpus Christi. (Photo: Casey Jackson / Caller-Times)

Red Wynn, 21, has been following the Democratic candidate's campaign for more than two months.

He attended the event at Del Mar College hoping to find out more about what O 'Rourke represents.

"I have never been very politically active, but lately I am because of Beto," he said. "I always had the impression that if I voted in blue, it would not matter in a Republican county, but Beto gave me hope that we can really change things. "

Jeanie Leonard, retired teacher from the independent school district of Corpus Christi for more than 20 years, said she and her husband, Alan, a US Air Force veteran who served for the end of the Vietnam War, attended the event to hear what the Democratic candidate had had. say on education and veterans.

More: Ted Cruz vs. Beto O 'Rourke: A Campaign Newspaper For The Texas Senate Race

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US representatives Beto O 'Rourke (left) and Joe Kennedy III hold talks with the media during the campaign that took place on Saturday October 13, 2018 at Del Mar College in Corpus Christi. (Photo: Casey Jackson / Caller-Times)

"Beto is definitely a champion of the public school system," said Jeanie Leonard. "His ideas for helping retired teachers to take on several jobs to make ends meet have resonances for me and the others … there is not enough money even after the service I 've done. I have made … the 20 years of my life … I do not earn enough and I know that it can help change that. "

Alan Leonard stated that O 'Rourke's position on the benefits accorded to veterans who served their country had caught his attention during the rally.

"It's a good idea for the government to come quickly to take care of their problems (veterans) … I have a lot of friends where it's an important factor for them and I'm glad they want to do it something to help because our needs have long been ignored, "said Alan Leonard.

Madlin Mekelburg, a journalist with Austin Office, Austin Bureau, contributed to this report.

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