GOP Strategist's Birthday Field Trip Smear Backfires

0:00It's April 30th. You're listening to entertainment and celebrity news today. AI-powered pop culture updates. I'm Cory with the story. A Republican strategist tried slamming Texas Democrat James Tolerico with an old Facebook post, but it blew up in his face big time. Bobby LaValle shared a 12-year-old pick from when Tolerico was a teacher. Caption saying he was excited for his birthday trip to the University of. Texas was six great boys. Turns out it was just a field trip, but LaValle called it straight creepy for a Senate hopeful. Tolerico is a 36-year-old Christian minister and state rep challenging Attorney General, Ken Paxton. Right now, polls show him up 44 to 42, so the GOP is scrambling to knock him down before November. The backlash hit hard even conservatives called the attack lame and over the top. Folks online roasted LaValle for twisting an innocent teacher moment into something sinister. This isn't the first wild swing at Tolerico from the right.

1:03Back in March, an evangelical pastor tied to mega-circles labeled him a wolf, demon, and snake even praying for his end. Expect more heat as the race tightens, with Tolerico holding strong against the smears.