Texas showdown: Beto bashes Biden over border crisis

Beto O'Rourke, the former Democratic congressman and presidential candidate, said he won't focus on Joe Biden in his gubernatorial campaign as he slammed the president over the border crisis.

O'Rourke announced his candidacy for Texas governor on Monday and was asked on Sunday about inviting the president on the campaign trail. 

"This campaign in Texas is not going to be about Joe Biden, it's not going to be about Donald Trump, it's not going to be about anyone outside of our state," he told CNN's "State of the Union" host Dana Bash. "This is going to be about the people of Texas and what the people of Texas want." 

When Bash asked O'Rourke if he preferred that Biden not campaign for him due to only 35% of Texans supporting the president, the gubernatorial candidate said, "I'm focused on Texas and on my fellow Texans. Those are the people most important to me.

“There is no politician, there is no other person from outside of this state who can help change the course of this election for better or for worse." 

In response to this, former communications director for former President Trump's 2020 presidential campaign, Tim Murtaugh, questioned where O'Rourke was receiving donations from. 

"Where are his donations coming from?" Murtaugh tweeted Sunday. 

O'Rourke also criticized Biden on immigration, saying, "I do not think we have seen enough urgency when it comes to rewriting our immigration laws to match the needs and the reality that we see, especially in our border communities. So, yes, we expect more of our president and those who represent us in Congress." 

He also slammed Texas Gov. Greg Abbott for using the southern border crisis "as a photo opportunity, scapegoating and vilifying immigrants." 

In fiscal 2021, 1.7 million illegal immigrants have been apprehended along the southern border, with a total of 192,001 in September alone.