A rally for Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, the Republican candidate for U.S. Senate, experienced a moment of apparent disarray when a speaker implored the crowd not to leave.
Ray Callas, a candidate for the Texas House of Representatives, made the unusual plea during the event held at an airport hangar in Beaumont on Thursday. "Do me a favor: Please don’t leave," Callas said. "I don’t want the media to turn it in saying that people don’t like Ken Paxton."
Paxton, who is endorsed by former President Donald Trump, was running significantly behind schedule for the rally, which began two-and-a-half hours after its advertised start time. Callas urged attendees to remain, suggesting they eat and drink while they waited for the candidate.
When Paxton’s bus eventually arrived, Callas attempted to energize the remaining attendees. "I want you to stand up, I want you to scream your head off," he urged. "Get ready for Ken Paxton."
As AC/DC's "Thunderstruck" played, the crowd largely remained seated, with some offering applause. Callas, from near the stage, encouraged them to stand and clap. Many eventually stood, but the reaction was muted.
Paxton, upon reaching the stage, referred to those who stayed as the "hardiest crowd" he had encountered.
However, the plea from Callas garnered significant attention on social media, with many drawing comparisons to Jeb Bush's "please clap" moment during his unsuccessful 2016 presidential campaign. Online commentators described the scene as "sad and pathetic" and suggested it reflected poorly on Paxton's campaign.
One social media user commented, "People with jobs still don't leave a great show they chose to attend. If they're leaving, it's because Ken Paxton's not worth staying for."