A rising US political star was bedridden by the flu. And then the conspiracies started
A rising star in US politics has responded with mockery after false claims he was at a mental health facility spread like wildfire around the internet.
If polling is accurate, James Talarico is on course to become the first Democrat in a generation to win a Senate seat in Texas.
Democratic US Senate candidate Texas state Representative James Talarico. AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson
But Talarico has been off the trail for 13 days, with his campaign putting his absence down to a bad case of the flu.
Then yesterday, conservative influencer Nick Sortor claimed Talarico had been at a mental hospital in Ohio.
"BREAKING EXCLUSIVE: Ohio mental hospital CONFIRMS James Talarico was discharged from the facility earlier this week," Sortor tweeted.
"The 'flu' thing was a BIG FAT LIE."
He identified the hospital as Lindner Centre of Hope.
Sortor’s claims were amplified by Elon Musk and conservative commentator Megyn Kelly.
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Soon afterwards, the hospital issued a statement denying Sortor's claim.
"Representative James Talarico has never received treatment from Lindner Centre of Hope," they said in a statement.
Soon after, Talarico responded himself on social media.
"I've never even been to Ohio," Talarico said with a crying-laughing emoji.
Donald Trump himself also weighed in on the rumours.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, upon information and belief, James TalaFREAKo, who is running for the United States Senate in Texas, is MISSING IN ACTION!" the president wrote on Truth Social.
“Bad rumours are coming out. He should immediately report to a Debate Stage against Ken Paxton, who is ready, willing, and able, one of the best Attorney Generals in the Country, and will soon be, hopefully, a United States Senator representing the Great People of Texas!”
Talarico is now back on the campaign trail, appearing at a Dallas concert with country star Kasey Musgraves.
And despite Trump's claims, Talarico has repeatedly declared he wants to debate his Republican opponent Ken Paxton.
Paxton meanwhile has dithered on agreeing to a debate.
"We’ve been working on that for months with (Talarico), and of course, we can never quite work out the details because he always wants something we can’t do," Paxton said.
Talarico replied on social media.
"Here are the details: literally any time, any place, any network," he said.
Talarico has accused Paxton of cowardice for refusing a debate.
"He asked for proof of life from me. I’m asking proof of spine from him," Talarico said.
"I’ve heard credible reports that Ken Paxton has a serious medical condition that causes clinical level of cowardice."
Ken Paxton is perhaps the most scandal-plagued candidate endorsed by Donald Trump. AP Photo/Eric Gay
Talarico's success in Texas is causing serious consternation among Republicans.
While a Senate seat from Texas is of numerically the same value of a seat in any other state, a win for Talarico would represent a serious threat to Republican electoral hopes.
Texas is the crown jewel of the Republican party nationwide.
The state is the second largest in the country and growing rapidly.
If Democrats can win there, it makes it extraordinarily hard for Republicans to claim the presidency.
The issues that have made Trump and the Republican party unpopular nationwide this year are particularly resonant in Texas.
Trump's immigration crackdown has put non-white communities on edge in Texas, with 40 per cent of the state identifying as Hispanic. Another five per cent are Asian.
Democrats have also weaponised the unpopularity of data centres, which are popping up all over rural Texas despite the opposition of locals.
And the price of oil is particularly painful in a state where nearly everybody drives to work.
But a Paxton loss would be pinned on Trump by other Republicans.
Trump endorsed Paxton in the Republican primary over John Cornyn, a long-time senator well-liked by his colleagues in Washington.
But Paxton is beset by scandal, including corruption and bribery accusations.
Ken Paxton is known for his deeply conservative views. AP
He was impeached by the state House of Representatives but kept his job after a vote to remove him failed by a single vote in the Texas Senate.
In 2015, he was arrested while attorney-general and charged with security fraud, paying a $A400,000 fine and doing 200 hours of community service in a deal with prosecutors.
His wife Angela filed for divorce last year on "biblical grounds", alleging adultery.
Talarico meanwhile comes across as squeaky clean.
The state representative from the Austin suburbs is a young, charismatic former teacher who speaks openly of his Christian faith.
Election Day is November 3.
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