New York Times finally covering Beto O'Rourke's tour of rural Texas

Beto O'Rourke, Democratic candidate for Governor of Texas, began a "Drive for Texas" a few weeks ago, in which he is visiting 65 counties in 49 days.  I've written about it here, and mentioned it here and here.  Now, J. David Goodman is reporting on his rural outreach for the New York Times, in a story headlined, "In Deep Red Texas, Beto O’Rourke Takes on Guns and Abortion."  (To be honest, the story is not that much about guns and abortion, but never mind).  Here's an excerpt highlighting the rural nature of many of the places O'Rourke is visiting.  

Locked in a race against Gov. Greg Abbott that has grown unexpectedly close, Mr. O’Rourke has been venturing into deeply conservative corners of rural Texas, sparking confrontations and conversations between Democrats and Republicans who may rarely speak with each other about politics, even if they cross paths every day in the local grocery store or at church.

“This is refreshing to see people like me — there’s probably five Democrats in the county,” said John Wade, 73, a retired Methodist elder who came to see Mr. O’Rourke in Bowie, Texas, where nearly 90 percent of voters chose Donald J. Trump in 2020.

At five recent town hall-style gatherings across the deep red rural northeast of Texas, Mr. O’Rourke invited protesters inside for a break from the oppressive heat, answered questions from supporters of Mr. Abbott and took pains to direct his attacks against the governor, not Republicans in general.

Not featured in these excerpts, but also in the story are vignettes that illustrate the lack of anonymity that marks rural communities.  (See the opening paragraphs, for example).   

Oh, and by the way, the story's dateline is Whitesboro, population 3,793, in metropolitan Grayson County (seat Sherman). Also mentioned in Goodman's story is Bowie, population 5,218, in neighboring Montague County, population 19,965.