BURLINGTON, Iowa (AP) — Democrat Beto O’Rourke jumped into the 2020 presidential race Thursday, shaking up the already packed field and pledging to win over voters from both major parties as he tries to translate his political celebrity into a formidable White House bid.
After months of ignoring states that vote early in the presidential nominating process, the former Texas congressman made his first trip to Iowa — popping into a coffee shop in the town of Keokuk while many cable networks aired live coverage. He took questions about everything from his support of federal legalization of marijuana to abortion rights to the possibility of a universal basic income, all while characteristically waving his arms frequently and gesticulating fervently.
It was the kind of high-energy, off-the-cuff style that made him a sensation in Texas, but O’Rourke also was clear that he doesn’t believe in strict immigration policies — drawing a policy distinction that could allow him to clash openly with President Donald Trump on the issue.
