AMARILLO, TX - The Democratic nominee campaigning to fill Kay Bailey Hutchison's vacated US Senate seat was in Amarillo Monday, rallying last minute support as we near the November election.
Paul Sadler started out soft in this race but during last weeks debate against Republican Ted Cruz, he made his presence known to Texans, explaining the teeth behind his campaign he hopes will take him all the way to Washington.
There's one thing both candidates agree on.
"Our nation is in crisis," Ted Cruz told NewsChannel 10 while campaigning in Amarillo over the summer. "Our national debt is greater than our gross domestic product."
Sadler noted he's frustrated with Washington and says it's time for change.
"It (Washington) is broken," Sadler said. " It's not working and it's not an effective government for us."
In the end, only one candidate will have a say in changing that.
Sadler is convinced he's the right man for the job.
"We need people who know how to achieve legislative solutions to our problems," he said. "I passed three consecutive teacher pay raises because the teacher pay was miserably low. I also passed the largest property tax cut in the history of our state."
Sadler served in the Texas House of Representatives from 1991 until 2003. He adds that political experience makes him the qualified candidate over Cruz, who's using the flaws of President Obama's Affordable Care Act as an advantage.
"My very first priority in the US Senate will be to lead the fight to repeal Obamacare," Cruz said.
It's a move Sadler argues will be a setback for America.
"When he (Cruz) says he's going to repeal the Affordable Care Act, that's just his inexperience showing," Sadler said. "He doesn't understand the process or he wouldn't make a statement like that."
While Sadler says the Affordable Care Act is not perfect, he adds there's never been a program of this size that's been flawless.
He says the act has opened up the door to better health care coverage, and would like to work on polishing the policy if given the chance to serve in Washington D.C. next year.
Sadler's drive behind his campaign is to cut the national deficit, cut wasteful spending and improve health care for Americans.
Tuesday, Oct. 9 is the last day to register for the November election.
Early voting begins Oct. 22.
