CNN: GOP Counteroffer to Ford Calls for Wednesday Hearing; Cruz, O'Rourke Face Off in First Texas Senate Debate.
BASH: And this is just in to CNN. We reported earlier this hour from sources on the Republican side that the Republicans on the Judiciary Committee had a conference call and they decided that their offer on this hearing with Brett Kavanaugh's accuser would be next week on Wednesday, two witnesses only. First, it would be Christine Blasey Ford following Brett Kavanaugh with an outside counsel. An independent lawyer, somebody who's not a senator to at least start the questioning while we are now hearing Democratic concerns over that proposal, particularly Senate Democratic aides tells CNN's Manu Raju, quote, outside counsel does not vote on Kavanaugh, senators do. Republicans need to do their jobs and not hide. We're going to have a lot more on that coming up as this develops. Meanwhile, a showdown in Dallas is happening tonight. Texas Republican Senator Ted Cruz and Democratic representative Beto O'Rourke are facing off on the debate stage for the very first time. A recent polling showing a very, very tight race. Energized Democrats are sparking GOP fears of an upset in deep red Texas. But a new Quinnipiac poll this week found Cruz pulling ahead among likely voters by a comfortable nine points. Fifty-four to 45 percent. Of those likely voters, 93 percent say their minds are made up about whom to vote for with just seven percent saying they might still change their minds between now and Election Day. Now with three debates scheduled, the question is, can the Democrat, O'Rourke, win over voters and regain the momentum or will Cruz put this race to bed once and for all. This is such a fascinating race for so many reasons. Namely, this is not supposed to be a race. The person who wins the Republican primary in Texas is supposed to have smooth sailing to Election Day for the general election and that's not happening now.</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's remarkably close.</s>BASH: Not expecting the discovery.</s>LUCEY: I think one of the things we've heard some grumbles from Republicans privately about, you know, how he didn't take it as seriously as perhaps he should have earlier on. Obviously they are now. But the debates definitely give O'Rourke an opportunity to, you know, create a viral moment.</s>BASH: And, you know, we can say until we are blue in the face, candidates matter. But in this case it is about the candidate mattering on the Democratic side. Beto O'Rourke has been somebody who has kind of been the darling of the Democrats this year. He has raised so much money. He's out raised Ted Cruz to the tune of $23.6 million for O'Rourke, $13.2 million for Ted Cruz. Outside spending on both sides is overwhelming.</s>MATTINGLY: Yes. And let's get some straight. Ted Cruz can raise money. If you look back at the president's campaign, if you look back at his past Senate campaigns, he does not struggle raising money. And so the margin has been stunning. I will say the most interesting element about having a debate is Ted Cruz is pretty good at debates. He's got a history of them here. And if you don't think he's not loaded up with the tack lines whether related to barbecue or skateboarding or any other thing, you're going to be mistaken. But I think it's going to be a fascinating contrast to finally see them together on stage having a real debate.</s>BASH: And the last time there was a Democratic senator from Texas, 1988, Lloyd Bentsen. Right. Exactly right. And if O'Rourke is able to pull this off which, you know, a lot of people are still skeptical that he will, he will be a national star immediately. And that will have implications -- could have implications for the 2020 presidential race.</s>KAPUR: One quick point on where Democrats are sweating this a little bit. O'Rourke is, you know, pretty well neck and neck in the polls. They believe he has a shot at this but his number among Hispanic at the Quinnipiac poll you talked about, he's only at 54 percent. The Democratic operative</s>BASH: All right, everybody, thank you so much for joining us. Thank you, Phil, being my reporting partner in crime as always.</s>MATTINGLY: Yes, it is fun.</s>BASH: It's really fun. Thank you so much for joining us on the INSIDE POLITICS. Hope to see you back here Sunday at 8 a.m. Eastern. Wolf starts right now.</s>WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: Hello, I'm Wolf Blitzer. It's 1 p.m. here in Washington. Thanks very much --