This is Mitch McConnell’s real response to what he thinks about the Trump endorsement of Mehmet Oz. The other night, when it happened, McConnell’s comment was, “I think we’re in a strong position to win no matter who’s nominated,” and now you know the truth, McConnell is worried about 2022 turning into a freak show. He’s had enough of Marge Greene and her “loony” space lasers for one lifetime and he’s not too crazy about the Big Lie proponents, either. The Hill:
McConnell, speaking at a chamber event in Kentucky, said that 1994 had been the best year for Republicans and that the atmosphere heading into November “is better than it was in 1994.”
“From an atmospheric point of view, it’s a perfect storm of problems for the Democrats,” McConnell said. “How could you screw this up? It’s actually possible. And we’ve had some experience with that in the past.”
“In the Senate, if you look at where we have to compete in order to get into a majority, there are places that are competitive in the general election. So you can’t nominate somebody who’s just sort of unacceptable to a broader group of people and win. We had that experience in 2010 and 2012,” McConnell added.
To win back the Senate in November, Republicans would need a net pickup of just one seat to tip the current 50-50 balance. Republicans are defending 21 seats, compared to Democrats’ 14, including two seats currently held by Republicans that are in states President Biden won in 2020.
Five seats are rated by The Cook Political Report as toss-ups. Three of those — Nevada, Georgia and Arizona — are currently held by Democrats, while two — Pennsylvania and Wisconsin — are currently held by Republicans. In Pennsylvania, GOP Sen. Pat Toomey is retiring.
That’s the lay of the land, and along comes Trump and endorses Dr. Oz and then Ted Budd in North Carolina, another controversial endorsement. Then going westward to Missouri, Eric Greitens is running for the Senate and he is a disaster. People are begging him to drop out of the race.
The fight for the Senate is running through several states, most of which McConnell mentioned on Tuesday: Georgia, Arizona, Missouri, Nevada, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, New Hampshire, Ohio and Wisconsin.
“So far I’m optimistic that in the places that are going to determine who the next majority leader is we’re going to have fully electable nominees,” McConnell said.
I guess we’re going to find out if that’s the case. Reading between the lines here, the extremists that Trump loves might end up costing the GOP too dearly. Ergo, it’s time to move on from Trump, a mantra you will hear more and more of.
We have quality candidates in all the states we need to maintain the majority. Dr Oz and Hershel Walker will be roadkill in a general. I think RoJo, in WI, has done enough to alienate most of the electorate. MO was not even on my radar this cycle until Greitens started leading in the polls. If they nominate him, we have a shot in ruby red MO. I also think Josh Mandel is such a POS trombie, that Tim Ryan has a chance. A significant majority of Iowa voters think Chuck Grassley is too old, which is all to the good for Abby Finkenauer. And let’s not forget Val Demings is polling well in FL.
As a Kentuckian, I can think of no better outcome this election than to keep McTurtle in the minority. I will do everything I can to insure that result.
Mitch, if you don’t like the candidates *your party* is choosing, then it’s on you as a senior member of Congress to speak out about it. And about the choices that *your party* has made over the last 15 or 20 years that have led to this situation, where it’s always been get more racist, more bigoted, crueler…and you supported all of that yourself.
If the democrats are in any way intelligent, they will use Sen. Rick Scott’s platform as a cudgel and beat the republicans to death with it. If they have not yet purchased all the possible air time possible, they need to do so immediately. The sooner they start airing his asininity, the better their poll numbers will look and appearances do matter. As for former guy’s picks–it looks like his endorsements are about as valuable as his business ventures; to the republican party that is. lmao