James Talarico dropped a new ad on Thursday. The target is Elon Musk. The message is "Texas is not for sale."
CNBC calculates Musk has put at least $189.6 million toward electing Ken Paxton. That is a lot of money to spend on a man who was impeached by his own party, per Talarico's own stump speech.
The ad says Musk wants Texas land. Then Texas water. Then a personal U.S. senator. It's a shopping list. Musk has apparently confused the Senate with a Costco.
Talarico called him a trillionaire. Musk is not a trillionaire. Talarico rounded up. Politicians do that. So do Tesla shareholders, who have been rounding up Musk's promises for a decade.
Musk's reply was that Talarico "hates Texas and America." Earlier he called him a "creep" and "pure evil." Strong words from a man whose own posting schedule looks like a hostage negotiation with his phone.
The ad also points out that the same super PACs pay for nearly all the attacks on Talarico. Somebody had to explain that to Texas. Texas had been watching the commercials and assuming the grassroots were furious.
Retail traders should pay attention here. Many of you hold Tesla because you believe in the man. Now the man is spending $366 million on 40 races. Your quarterly earnings call has a Senate subplot. Enjoy that.
Talarico leads Paxton by 3 points in one polling average. Election Day is Nov. 3. Two weeks of ads remain. Both sides will say the other is bought. Both will be right about someone.
Musk has so much money he can't tell if he's buying a senator or a very expensive lesson. The lesson is cheaper, and it comes with a free 3-point deficit.
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