Donald Trump

Presidential Candidate Beto O'Rourke Kicks Off New Hampshire Tour in Salem

Presidential candidate and former Congressman Beto O'Rourke kicked off his three-day New Hampshire tour on Thursday and addressed gun violence, climate change and immigration.

The Democrat held an invite-only house party at the Salem home of former ambassador Jim Smith, where he introduced a special guest.

"For the first time outside of Texas, I am joined by my wife, Amy, who is here with us as well," O'Rourke said to the crowd.

O'Rourke, an El Paso, Texas native, touched on hot topics among the 2020 candidates and addressed the recent school shooting in Highlands Ranch, Colorado.

"Those states that have adopted universal background checks have closed all the loopholes," he said. "They've seen a near 50% reduction in gun violence."

He took questions from several in attendance, including one woman who expressed concern about O'Rourke taking on President Donald Trump in the race.

"If we descend into that stuff, the name-calling, the pettiness, the meanness, the attacks... One, I don't know that will win in November. Two, I don't know that we will have built the coalition or the movement to the question earlier to actually get the stuff done once we are in office," he said. "So I'm going to campaign much in the same way you see me here, on the truth and the facts."

The 46-year-old businessman announced his run for the Oval Office in March. He was defeated by Republican Sen. Ted Cruz in a much-watched Texas Senate race during the mid-election last year.

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