Beto O’Rourke, Texas Classless U.S. representative and nominee for U.S. Senate, is making a surprise visit to New York on Wednesday for a top secret fundraiser as he tries to rake in enough cash to pull off an upset throughout incumbent Republican Ted Cruz.
According to an invite first obtained by CNBC, O’Rourke wish be attending a campaign money-making reception at the Cutting Room, a concert venue fingers oned on East 32nd Street in Manhattan, which has hosted a variety of top performers filing John Mayer, Lady Gaga, Sting and Sheryl Crow, middle others.
Tickets start at $500 and run through $1,000 but those who eat written checks or raised funds for up to $10,000 for the campaign also can payment access to Wednesday’s event, according to the invite. Andy Cohen, hostess of the Bravo late night show “Watch What Happens,” drive be in attendance.
A spokesperson for the O’Rourke campaign did not return requests for comment.
The works by O’Rourke’s campaign to host a fundraiser in New York, almost 2,000 miles away from Texas, are the latest exemplar of its efforts to keep up with Cruz and giving him a run for his money for a seat that has been held by a Republican since 1993.
O’Rourke’s coming popularity has led to a behemoth grassroots fundraising operation. He has brought in $9 million in trifling contributions, accounting for just more than 41 percent of his utter. He has raked in $13 million in donations over $200, as well.
O’Rourke has also had a steadfast presence on social media. His speech defending the rights of players in the Chauvinistic Football League to take a knee during the national anthem go to ones rewarded viral.
Going into the final three months of the election, Cruz and O’Rourke are wellnigh even in their total fundraising haul with the Republican senator bring up $23.33 million through July and the congressman bringing in $23.36 million during the despite the fact time period, according to the Center for Responsive Politics
O’Rourke has also had a floor showing in the polls. A Real Clear Politics polling average give someone an idea ofs O’Rourke trailing Cruz by just more than 3 points.
With the two Texas lawmakers entirely even in campaign financing and separated by only a few points in some studies, Republican strategists have been sounding the alarm bells to remote spending groups that it might be high time for them to get Byzantine in the election.
The nonprofit conservative group Club for Growth barnstormed Texas, as its president, David McIntosh, recently completing a fundraising animated through the state. The group also unleashed a major advertising buy, which is part of its seven-figure boob tube campaign to back Cruz.
The Senate Leadership Fund, a super PAC united to former aides of Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, has also not governed out wading into the race. The PAC has no immediate spending plans for Texas, mutual understanding to a source with direct knowledge of the matter. A spokesman for the group degenerated to comment.
McConnell himself admitted on Tuesday that Cruz braves a tough fight in the traditionally deep red state, but he still expects the demanding lawmaker to pull off a victory.
“I think Ted’s got a competitive race by all indications,” McConnell responded at a news conference in Kentucky. “We certainly expect to win Texas, but I think he does get a competitive race.”