TUCSON, Ariz. — Presidential candidate, Beto O'Rourke, was greeted by a friendly crowd at Gentle Ben's on Sunday.
"Very grateful to be the first presidential candidate to come to Tucson and the welcome today could not have been any kinder, any warmer, anymore powerful," the Democrat said.
O'Rourke broached issues before supporters that have been contentious on the national stage and in Arizona.
"The issue of the second amendment is very polarizing and you say you want to unite people...how would you negotiate or speak to these folks who feel [differently] on this particular issue?"
"To be clear we're talking about weapons of war: an AR-15, an AK-47, is a weapon designed for use on a battlefield. It's devastatingly effective at killing people."
O'Rourke added, "Tucson, like El Paso, has a special perspective on this challenge, and we should use it to help lead the country to ensure the safety of our fellow Americans."
The message at Sunday's campaign event, echoed by his supporters.
"It's real important to me to support a man that speaks about those topics the way that he does with such passion," said Max Torres, an O'Rourke supporter.
O'Rourke's message to Tucson was to help turn Arizona blue in 2020, which he says his recent race in Texas could help him accomplish.
Brittni Goll, a Texan who just finished her masters at U of A, agrees.
"I saw a huge change in Texas," Goll said.
"Texas was a big, red state that when he ran at senate we suddenly became a swing state. I think it's very possible in Arizona especially."
O'Rourke currently trails other candidates in several polls for the Democratic Presidential nomination.
