Ted Cruz, Beto O'Rourke to hold 3 debates

DALLAS -- Republican incumbent Ted Cruz and Democratic challenger Beto O'Rourke have agreed to debate each other three times before the U.S. Senate election in November.

In statements issued Friday, the two agreed to debate domestic policy before live audiences on Sept. 21 at Southern Methodist University in Dallas and Sept. 30 at the University of Houston.
A third debate on domestic and foreign policy issues is scheduled on Oct. 16 before a live television studio audience in San Antonio.

According to a CBS Dallas / Dixie Strategies poll, likely voters in Texas were asked who they would vote for if the election for U.S. Senate were held today. While Cruz is ahead in the poll with only four points separating him from O'Rourke, the result is a statistical tie – within the margin of error of 4.3 percent. Of all likely voters in Texas surveyed, 46 percent of respondents said they would vote for Ted Cruz while 42 percent said they would vote for O'Rourke.

SMU political science professor Cal Jillson told CBS Dallas Rep. O'Rourke must jump ahead in the polls by the beginning of October to have a legitimate shot at winning. "Beto O'Rourke has run a great race. He's within striking distance," said Jillson. "But he's got to get ahead of Cruz by three or four or five points before he is safe on Election Day."

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ted-cruz-beto-orourke-to-hold-3-debates-texas-senate-race/