Texas Democratic chair unloads on Ken Paxton: ‘If brains were dynamite, he couldn’t blow his nose’

Texas Democratic Party Chair Kendall Scudder called Republicans Gov. Greg Abbott and U.S. Senate nominee Ken Paxton “chicken shit” for avoiding debates with their Democratic opponents during a Saturday morning appearance on MS NOW’s The Weekend.“Frankly, if I had to defend their record, I wouldn’t want to show up on a debate stage either,” Scudder said.His remarks came after cohost Eugene Daniels questioned why Republicans were attacking Democratic Senate nominee James Talarico’s masculinity while neither Paxton nor Abbott had agreed to debate their challengers. Abbott is seeking a fourth term against Democratic state Rep. Gina Hinojosa. Paxton, the state’s attorney general, faces Talarico, also a state representative, for the Senate seat held by Republican John Cornyn.Related: Kari Lake turns James Talarico’s flu recovery into a ridiculous ‘bottom surgery’ conspiracy theory The program aired footage of a Dallas NBC affiliate reporter asking Abbott why he wouldn’t debate Hinojosa. Abbott defended his approach of visiting communities and speaking directly with voters.“I know what it is and what it takes to actually win a race for governor. I’ve done it before,” Abbott said. “One thing is that I’m hearing these voters appreciate me showing up.”“Showing up anywhere but a debate stage,” Daniels quipped. He pointed to Republican attacks invoking Talarico’s testosterone levels and questioning his masculinity, then asked why the candidates would not face their opponents.Scudder accused the Republicans of lacking the courage to debate and challenged Abbott’s explanation.“If what’s important to Greg Abbott is showing up in communities, I don’t know why he didn’t do it for the last 12 years he was governor,” Scudder said.He accused Abbott of failing Texans on taxes, public safety, public schools, and rural hospitals while supporting data center development.“What a joke. He’s a clown,” Scudder said.Turning to Paxton,