Republicans and Democrats are trying to win the support of as wide an array of voters as possible, and their campaign messaging reflects that, said Geoffrey Skelley, an associate editor of Larry Sabato’s Crystal Ball at UVA’s Center for Politics. “O’Rourke is trying to have a broad as appeal as possible and not strongly pointing out Democratic Party identification in a traditionally Republican state, or at least fairly Republican in recent times, is smart,” Skelley said.