Washington Post: “These difficulties have come into sharp focus in Texas, where Cruz is fighting for political survival against O’Rourke, a rising liberal star who is raising record-setting sums of cash and attracting large crowds across a ruby-red state. At the end of June, O’Rourke had close to $14 million cash on hand to Cruz’s $9 million.”

“The tough realities of Texas have prompted an unexpected alliance between Cruz and the Republicans he spent years waging a vendetta against as a senator and as a candidate for president — including Trump and McConnell. The sudden cooperation underscores how much the GOP fears losing Texas.”

“The shock waves are being felt well beyond the state, as its several expensive media markets could force the party to spend money there that it will have to subtract from GOP hopefuls in other battlegrounds. McConnell recently assured Cruz in a private conversation that resources would be there for him.”

Rick Tyler, who served as Sen. Ted Cruz’s communications director during his 2016 presidential race, told MSNBC that Cruz could lose his re-election race.

Said Tyler: “It’s possible — people say no, it’s not possible because again you look at Texas and say ‘it’s a red state and it’s never going to happen’ but Beto O’Rourke has consistently out-fundraised him two-to-one, and he doesn’t take PAC money.”

He added: “It should be a 10 to 15 point race, it’s not, it’s a zero to four point race.”

“We are seeing tens of millions of dollars flooding into the state of Texas from liberals all over the country who desperately want to turn the state of Texas blue. They want us to be just like California, right down to tofu and silicon and dyed hair.”

— Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), quoted by CNN.

“With a string of polls showing GOP Sen. Ted Cruz’s lead slipping, Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick showed up in Washington on July 25 to deliver an urgent plea to White House officials: Send President Trump,” Politico reports.

“Patrick, who chaired Trump’s 2016 campaign in the state, made the case that a Trump visit was needed to boost turnout for Cruz and the rest of the Texas Republican ticket.”

“The previously unreported meeting comes as senior Republicans grow increasingly concerned about the senator’s prospects in the reliably red state, with some expressing fear that an underperformance could threaten GOP candidates running further down the ballot.”

President Trump’s budget chief, Mick Mulvaney, expressed confidence to Republican donors that the party would overcome a Democratic “movement of hate” in November, but he acknowledged Republicans could lose races where they have nominated candidates who are not seen as “likable” enough, like Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), the New York Times reports.

Said Mulvaney: “They want you to think there’s a blue wave when there’s not.”

But Mr. Mulvaney “conceded that Republicans had nominated poor candidates in places and might struggle to defend a huge number of open House seats where Republican incumbents decided not to run for re-election.”

President Trump announced that will travel to Texas in October to campaign for Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), “an incumbent in a deep-red state who is facing an unexpectedly tough race for reelection,” CNBC reports.

“The announcement of a presidential campaign trip more than a month in advance reflects the growing sense of panic among Republicans, who fear that a Senate seat once considered among the most solidly Republican in all of American politics could be up for grabs.”

“Republicans are sounding the alarm about Texas Sen. Ted Cruz’s closer-than-expected reelection contest, with an influential conservative group racing to his aid,” Politico reports.

“The Club for Growth, a Washington-based anti-tax group, is drawing up plans for a major TV ad campaign boosting Cruz — the first such intervention by a Republican outside group in this race. The move comes as Democratic Rep. Beto O’Rourke, an online fundraising behemoth who has attracted national support, continues to narrow the gap in polling.”

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), “during a lunch with colleagues last week in Washington passed the hat for campaign cash, as the Texas Republican’s anxiety mounts about the unusually brisk challenge from Democratic Rep. Beto O’Rourke (D),” the Washington Examiner reports.

“O’Rourke is raising money by the truckload — enough to compete in Texas, a big state with costly media markets. The development has forced Cruz to hunt for resources in unlikely places for a politician who built his national career on opposition to the party establishment: fellow lawmakers, political action committees, and wealthy Republican donors.”

Said one GOP operative: “He was pretty intense last week and he should be — he needs the dough.”

A new Emerson College poll in Texas finds Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) barely ahead of challenger Beto O’Rourke (D) in the U.S. Senate race, 38% to 37%, with 21% still undecided.

“I can think of nothing more American.”

— Rep. Beto O’Rourke (D-TX), explaining why NFL players kneeling during the national anthem is not disrespectful.

A new NBC News/Marist poll in Texas finds Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) leading challenger Beto O’Rourke (D) by just four points among registered voters, 49% to 45%.

“While both candidates have largely consolidated their bases — with O’Rourke capturing the support of 90% of Democrats and Cruz securing 91% of Republicans — independents in the state are equally split between the two men.”

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) told the Houston Chronicle that he asked President Trump to assist him in his re-election efforts.

Said Cruz: “I would certainly welcome his support, and I hope to see him in Texas. I think we are likely to see the president down in Texas before the election.”