By WILL WEISSERT
Associated Press

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) - Is Beto O'Rourke liberal enough to survive a 2020 Democratic presidential primary run?

During the Texas Senate race, some home-state Democrats grumbled that the three-term congressman wasn't softening his liberal positions enough to finish a near-upset of Ted Cruz.

Now, as O'Rourke mulls a 2020 White House run, a small but vocal segment of activists is suggesting he's not liberal enough.

They argue he's more about feel-good flash than commitment to values that will excite his party's ascendant leftist wing.

O'Rourke has long rejected the "progressive" label but also bristles at being called centrist.

He may not, however, be able to dodge staying in an ideological lane forever should he commit to entering the potentially packed Democratic presidential primary field.

Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.