McConnell Dems may hold onto Senate , bad GOP candidates
ASPartOfMe
Veteran
Joined: 25 Aug 2013
Age: 66
Gender: Male
Posts: 34,480
Location: Long Island, New York
NBC News McConnell says Republicans may not win Senate control, citing 'candidate quality'
“I think there’s probably a greater likelihood the House flips than the Senate. Senate races are just different — they're statewide, candidate quality has a lot to do with the outcome,” he said in Florence, Kentucky, at a Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce luncheon when asked about his projection for the 2022 election.
“Right now, we have a 50-50 Senate and a 50-50 country, but I think when all is said and done this fall, we’re likely to have an extremely close Senate, either our side up slightly or their side up slightly.”
Even though history strongly favors the party out of power — in this case the GOP — to make gains in midterm races, McConnell has long worried that subpar candidates could play into Democrats' hands.
While he didn't mention any names, there are examples across the country.
In Pennsylvania's open Senate race, the nonpartisan Cook Political Report changed its rating Thursday from "toss up" to "lean Democrat" as GOP nominee Mehmet Oz, a celebrity doctor, struggles against Democrat John Fetterman, the state's lieutenant governor, who leads in recent polls.
Apart from Oz, Republicans have nominated numerous first-time candidates backed by former President Donald Trump in states such as Georgia, Arizona and Ohio to run against seasoned Democratic politicians. The Senate Leadership Fund, a group aligned with McConnell, recently bought $28 million worth of airtime in Ohio to support Republican nominee J.D. Vance.
The Republican Party establishment also failed to recruit preferred candidates in other states, like New Hampshire.
_________________
Professionally Identified and joined WP August 26, 2013
DSM 5: Autism Spectrum Disorder, DSM IV: Aspergers Moderate Severity
It is Autism Acceptance Month
“My autism is not a superpower. It also isn’t some kind of god-forsaken, endless fountain of suffering inflicted on my family. It’s just part of who I am as a person”. - Sara Luterman
This is classic expectation management from McConnell. I wouldn't put too much weight on it.
Interesting how many celebrities the Republicans have nominated. A TV personality in PA, a sportsperson in GA, an author in OH and another in AZ. There are also a few people who run construction companies. Some candidates with more traditional backgrounds in places like Nevada and New Hampshire.
Contrastingly in their key races, the Democrats are putting up Lieutenant Governors, Representatives, a Supreme Justice of the state Supreme Court, and a retired vice admiral. It's a very different strategy. The question is which party has its finger on the pulse of the local swing voters.
The race I'm most interested in is Evan McMullin in Utah. Probably entirely inconsequential but would add another true moderate to a Senate desperately lacking in them.
This guy gets it.
Mitch isn't wrong about the candidate quality thing though, some of them are real head scratchers.
_________________
“The totally convinced and the totally stupid have too much in common for the resemblance to be accidental.”
-- Robert Anton Wilson
Similar Topics | |
---|---|
McConnell to step down as Senate GOP leader |
28 Feb 2024, 1:18 pm |
Kyrsten Sinema Won't Seek Re-Election to the US Senate |
05 Mar 2024, 8:45 pm |
Appeals Court Puts TX Immigration Law Back On Hold |
20 Mar 2024, 7:37 pm |