Top four takeaways from first and only TV debate between Abbott and O'Rourke

Contributing sentiments towards policy:

53% : The video clips were taken from a podcast interview in June 2020 in which O'Rourke voiced support for Black Lives Matter protesters who wanted "to defund these line items that have overmilitarized our police and instead invest that money in the human capital."
45% :Gun control in the wake of the Uvalde mass shooting
42% : The mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, in May has taken center stage during the midterm cycle, with O'Rourke seeking to pinpoint the blame on the incumbent's policies on gun control.
40% : The candidates covered a number of topics, such as immigration reform, gun violence, and abortion, as the two sought to paint the other as an extremist who is out of touch with Texas voters.
39% : Candidates spar on abortion rightsAbortion has become one of the most high-profile issues during the midterm cycle, particularly after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade over the summer, ending nationwide access to the procedure.
35% : He then sought to paint his opponent as an extremist, claiming that "Beto's position is the most extreme because he not only supports abortion of a fully developed child to the very last second before birth, he's even against providing medical care for a baby who survives an abortion.
27% : Abbott approved the transfer of the immigrants to cities led by Democrats, arguing the Biden administration has not done enough to secure the southern border.
23% : O'Rourke seeks to clarify stance on police fundingThe candidates also focused on policing reforms during the debate, with O'Rourke seeking to clarify his stance on defunding the police as Abbott has sought to paint the Democrat as a flip-flopper on the issue.
20% :CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINERAbbott has repeatedly tried to paint O'Rourke as a candidate who wishes to dismantle law enforcement, releasing ads with edited clips appearing to show the Democrat pushing to defund the police.

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