By David Siders (Politico) –
EL PASO, Texas — Beto O’Rourke, christening his presidential campaign at a boisterous rally in his hometown on Saturday, cast himself as a crusader against moneyed interests that he said have corrupted America’s democracy and a president he accused of capitalizing on politics of “fear and division.”
In what could amount to his maiden stump speech — delivered at the first large-scale, structured event of his nascent campaign — O’Rourke’s populist progressive framing evoked similar appeals from rivals Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren.