Unconcerned about overexposure or plain exhaustion, Robert Francis “Beto” O’Rourke will visit San Diego on Tuesday as his nationwide tour makes its first California swing.
The 46-year-old Democratic presidential candidate will appear in a 10 a.m. to noon Town Hall event at the Jacobs Center for Neighborhood Innovation in Chollas View.
RSVPs are being invited on Facebook and his official website.
It’s the tail end of a California tour that starts Saturday with an outdoor rally at Los Angeles Trade Technical College. On Sunday, he’s set for a Town Hall at the United Irish Cultural Center in San Francisco.
On Monday, he’ll make several stops in the Central Valley.
The social media savvy former El Paso congressman skyrocketed to fame last year with his failed effort to unseat Texas Sen. Ted Cruz.
According to the 2020 watch site blog.4president.org, O’Rourke has held more than 107 events with voters in Iowa, Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, New Hampshire, Nevada, Texas, New York and the District of Columbia since announcing for president March 14.
“Prior to coming to California, O’Rourke will be in Nevada to meet with, listen to and learn from voters in Reno, Carson City, Henderson and Las Vegas,” the site said.
O’Rourke has “personally driven 4,197 miles,” the site said, as he visited 83 cities and “answered 594 questions.”
According to FEC records, O’Rourke raised $9.37 million in the last two weeks of March — but only $389,689.76 coming from 1,230 Californians.
The Los Angeles Times reported: “Notably absent from O’Rourke’s itinerary are the private Hollywood and Silicon Valley fundraisers that presidential candidates typically hold during visits to California. Spokesman Chris Evans said O’Rourke has held no fundraising events and has not scheduled any.”
In recent weeks, O’Rourke’s campaign has attracted less media attention than that of South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg, 37. And Thursday’s expected entry of former Vice President Joe Biden, 76, further dilutes the field.
Some 20 Democrats will have announced for president by the end of this week.
O’Rourke, posting in English and Spanish, said of his San Diego visit: “I am traveling to towns and cities across America to introduce myself and hear from people like you about the ways we can move this country forward.”
Tuesday’s visit apparently is not O’Rourke’s first to America’s Finest City.
In March 2018, congressional candidate Mike Levin tweeted a picture of himself with the El Paso lawmaker during a visit to San Diego two weeks after the Texas Democratic primary.
“Outstanding candidate who is just the guy to beat Ted Cruz,” Levin said. “I look forward to working together to hold Washington accountable!”
Great to spend some time today with @BetoORourke during his visit to San Diego. Outstanding candidate who is just the guy to beat Ted Cruz. I look forward to working together to hold Washington accountable! Thanks #TruSD pic.twitter.com/xS1rRH7Fia
— Mike Levin (@MikeLevinCA) March 19, 2018
According to polling averages tracked by realclearpolitics.com, O’Rourke sits at 7.4% among Democratic contenders. He’s behind Biden (29.2%), Sen. Bernie Sanders (22.2%) and Sen. Kamala Harris (8.2%).