Former Pres. Obama joins James Talarico, Gina Hinojosa at Austin taco spot

Obama joins James Talarico & Gina Hinojosa in Austin

Former President Barack Obama made a surprise appearance in Austin with Democratic U.S. Senate candidate James Talarico and Texas gubernatorial candidate Gina Hinjosa.

AUSTIN, Texas - Former President Barack Obama made a surprise appearance in Austin with Democratic U.S. Senate candidate James Talarico and Texas gubernatorial candidate Gina Hinjosa.

The backstory:

Obama, Talarico and Hinojosa stopped in at Taco Joint near the University of Texas at Austin campus. 

Talarico for Texas released video of the three ordering food and talking to people inside the restaurant.

Obama did not make any formal public remarks or make a formal endorsement of either Talarico or Hinojosa.

What they're saying:

On X, President Obama posted about the visit saying, "It was great joining @JamesTalarico and @GinaHinojosaTX today in Texas. They're working hard to make a difference in the lives of all Texans, and will be able to do even more as your next Senator and Governor. Let’s get it done, Texas!"

What's next:

Talarico will be the Democratic U.S. Senate candidate in the general election this November. His Republican opponent will be decided in a runoff on May 26 between Attorney General Ken Paxton and Sen. John Cornyn. 

Hinojosa will face off against Gov. Greg Abbott. 

Dig deeper:

"And so what both Talarico and Hinojosa are hoping is that all his positives are projected onto them, meaning everything people like about Obama is going to move to them," said political analyst Brian Smith from St. Edwards University.

Small venues, according to Smith, can have a big payout.

"You can't get more middle of the road than that," said Smith.

The goal is to connect with young voters and possibly with moderates. Obama has made past food stops at Franklin’s and the Magnolia Café. 

"It is a place to reach people because whether we want to admit it, these are all restaurants that we like to eat at and enjoy. And that is something that's bipartisan. It's not like you're going to a very, very fancy restaurant that only the elite can afford or really not going to a place that anybody knows. You're going into a place that people can relate to and also a place that you know is going to be pretty safe because it's not going to anger either the Democrats or the Republicans. And it shows that, hey, I'm just like you. I like to go to Whataburger. I enjoy a taco on Tuesday," said Smith.

The other side:

A post on the social media campaign page for Governor Greg Abbott took a jab at the taco Tuesday gathering. The meme, which got its own pushback, is an indicator of how hot the next few months will get politically.  Meeting the People events can also backfire.

George H.W. Bush, in February 1992, went to a grocery store and appeared to be amazed at the electronic checkout process. Political rivals and critics portrayed Bush as being out of touch with the average American.

"There is a danger of doing this, meaning if you are going to go to a Whataburger or Pat's Steaks in Philly, like John Kerry, you need to know how to order on the menu or even go back to Gerald Ford, trying to eat a tamale by just picking it up and trying to bite through the corn husk. You don't do that. So, if you aren't going to go to one of these places and try to project that you're just like everybody else, you got to be able to walk the walk," said Smith.