Can Warren go head-to-head with Trump?

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BySteve Campion KTRK logo
Wednesday, September 11, 2019
Houston gave me my start, Elizabeth Warren says
Elizabeth Warren looked back on her Houston roots at a campaign rally in Austin Tuesday.

AUSTIN, Texas (KTRK) -- At a rally in Austin Tuesday, Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren referred to Houston quite a few times.

The Democratic hopeful said the city gave her a chance to live her dream job. The question Tuesday night is will the debate Thursday in Houston help propel her to the presidency?

"My first big job was back in Houston," Warren said. "I was so excited."

From the moment Warren took the stage, she pushed policy proposals by telling her life story, including the time spent studying and teaching at the University of Houston.

"Back then, it cost $50 a semester," Warren said. "University of Houston! Go Coogs!"

Hundreds turned out to hear from the senator, just days before ABC News' Democratic debate at Texas Southern University.

Earlier Tuesday, many wondered if Warren can go head-to-head with President Trump.

"I'm hopeful she can," undecided voter Kelli Sippola told Eyewitness News.

SEE ALSO: Elizabeth Warren defends 'big ideas' during 2020 presidential candidate debates

"I really like to see the field start to narrow down," undecided voter Hayden Fox said. "There's been a lot of candidates."

After the campaign speech and questions, Warren told ABC13 she's ready for Thursday night.

"For me, this is just about a chance to talk about why I'm in this fight and how I'm fighting," she said. "I got a chance to talk to people in Houston, a chance to talk to people in Texas, a chance to talk to people all over America, that's what I've been doing from the beginning."

We asked her about her proposals to combat climate change, and whether the energy capital of the world should worry about a Warren administration.

"I see this as they're friendly for the people who live in Houston, friendly for the people who live on this earth," Warren said. "The urgency of the problems created by climate change cannot be ignored any longer."

Tuesday night, Warren planned to spend the night in the Texas capital. She'll head to Houston Wednesday as she gets ready to take center stage.

WHAT TO KNOW: HOUSTON DEMOCRATIC DEBATE

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