DAVID MARCUS: Ahead of GOP convention, Dallas Dems share worried optimism

There were a few hundred Democrats gathered at a venue called Lofty Spaces in Dallas on Monday, in a sweltering heat that could not hold back the annual Labor Day political rally. And while on the surface all was confidence, when you scratched a little deeper, you struck frayed nerves.

Ellen, a retired nurse who sometimes protests in a Statue of Liberty costume, was there, and agreed to an interview if I helped to take her gear to her car, which I would have done anyway, of course.

Ellen was optimistic about Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico in his race against Republican Ken Paxton.

"I feel very good about him, Im very optimistic, I dont think Texans are going to vote for a criminal, cheat, adulterer, Ken Paxton," she said.

When I pointed out that Paxton, the current state attorney general, had already won statewide elections twice, she smiled and said, "Thats the problem."

But not the only problem. Asked about Talaricos Senate primary opponent, Rep. Jasmine Crockett, a high-profile Black Texas Democrat who has thus far refused to back Talarico, Ellen said, "I voted for her, and after he won…and she decided she wasnt going to support him, I was so glad that she lost.

JASMINE CROCKETT BLASTS HER TEXAS DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY LOSS AS RACIST RACE'

Joanna and Ruth, who are in Ellen's age demo and also very active in the Democratic Party in Dallas, thought Talarico is looking good.

,"Im feeling more encouraged than I have in a really long time, that it is going to flip over," Joanna added, "Im feeling really fabulous about it too," but again, concerns over Crockett and the Black vote lingered.

Joanna shared that, "I really hope she gets on board to help with the Black people, because we need them voting, but she has always been my rep and I love her."

Several Black Democrats I spoke with at the event felt confident that Crocketts obstinance would not be decisive, and were not willing to attack her for it.

Perhaps the biggest headwind for Talarico that I discovered in Dallas, something that polling has a hard time catching up to, is a lack of enthusiasm over him. Determination to win is in the air, but far less so is excitement.

Later that day, downtown, I met Richard who is in his 30s and works in the service industry. He said there was more buzz in the lead-up to Beto ORourkes narrow 2018 Senate loss,

"The energy for Beto was everywhere, it was palpable," he said. "I was sure that Ted Cruz was going to lose. I dont feel that this time."

Jaime, a liberal elementary school principal, seemed a bit less worried about the energy gap, though he did acknowledge, "Beto had style and rizz, Talarico is kind of a square."

And lets face it, back in 2018, we even had a term for ORourkes appeal: Beto-Mania.' There is no Talarico-Mania.

I wound up asking several people this question, and even those who shrugged it off only did so after a look in their eyes told me they knew it was at least a real thing, if not a dealbreaker.

Meanwhile, the massive on-hand money advantage that Talarico has enjoyed is starting to evaporate, as President Trumps PAC this week committed $10 million to back Paxton. Republican Gov. Greg Abbotts ads, focused on oil production and culture issues, also serve as de facto anti-Talarico spots.

On final bump in the road for Talarico is that in Texas, even among many