SAN ANTONIO — In the closely watched Texas Senate race between Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and Rep. Beto O'Rourke, D-El Paso, debate number two provided a chance for both candidates to define each other and their records.

After hearing from supporters who wanted him to take a more aggressive tone toward Cruz, O'Rourke from the outset was on the attack, accusing Cruz of not criticizing President Donald Trump for standing with Vladimir Putin despite Russian interference in the 2016 election.

"He won't stand up against him and he won't stand for us," O'Rourke said.

O'Rourke also brought up Cruz's battle with Trump during the 2016 presidential primary.

"He's dishonest," O'Rourke said of Cruz. "That's why the  president called him 'Lyin' Ted' and it's why the nickname stuck. Because it's true."

Cruz quickly countered with a comment about O'Rourke's new aggressive tactic.

"It's clear Congressman O'Rourke's pollsters have told him to come out on the attack," Cruz said. "So if he wants to insult me and call me a liar, that's fine."

The two continued to spar over talk of a shutdown. O'Rourke raised Cruz's role in the 2013 government shutdown while Cruz said if Democrats take over the House and Senate, expect O'Rourke to lead the fight for the next two years under Trump.  

 

"You want to talk about a shutdown?" Cruz said. " With Congressman O'Rourke leading the way, there will be two years of a partisan circus and a witch hunt on the president."

"It is really interesting to hear you talk about a partisan circus after your last six years in the Senate," O'Rourke countered.

The debate in San Antonio was likely the final faceoff between Cruz and O'Rourke. The two had been set for three debates, but a Houston matchup was postponed due to the battle over Brett Kavanaugh's U.S. Supreme Court confirmation and was never rescheduled.

Early voting for the midterm elections begins October 22. President Trump will also be holding a rally for Cruz that evening in Houston. Election Day is November 6.