"He reminds me a lot of Kennedy": Beto O'Rourke kicks off campaign in El Paso

What they're saying: Every single person Axios' Alexi McCammond talked to at the kickoff mentioned O'Rourke's positivity and charisma first, though some want to hear more about his policy stances.

• Sarah Buchanan-Sasson, 32, drove from Atlanta to El Paso: "He reminds us that people are good, and of the power of inspiration and the power of believing that things can change."
• Martha Macias said: "He reminds me a lot of Kennedy."

O'Rourke's speech, which included a Spanish interlude, rallied against giving into fear or isolating people's differences.

• "Instead, we shall be known forever after by our ambitions, our aspirations," he said.