Sen. McConnell: ‘I Already Have the Votes to be Re-Elected as Republican Leader’
EmailABC News’ Rick Klein reports: Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell today brushed aside suggestions that he might be challenged for his leadership post next year, declaring on ABC/Washington Post’s “Top Line” that he’s already got enough votes to again lead what he said would be a larger GOP caucus next year. Though several Tea Party-backed Republican challengers – including, most recently, Alaska Senate candidate Joe Miller – have said they won’t commit yet to backing McConnell, fueling speculation of a possible leadership challenge, the Kentucky Republican said he isn’t worried about such chatter. “We'll have a mixture of people coming in,” McConnell said on “Top Line.” “First of all, I already have the votes to be re-elected as Republican leader, and will be re-elected. We'll have different kinds of folks. We'll have moderates like Mike Castle [in Delaware] and Mark Kirk [in Illinois]. We'll have people who are experienced like Rob Portman [in Ohio] and Roy Blunt [in Missouri]. And we'll have some brand new people. So I think it'll be a mixture of folks.” McConnell also expressed confidence that Castle, R-Del., would win his primary in two weeks, suggesting that the establishment choice won’t be afraid of challenging his Tea Party-backed opponent. McConnell said Castle is running like Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., who eviscerated his primary opponent and cruised to re-nomination last month. “I hear that Congressman Castle is not ignoring his opponent and has paid a lot of attention to what has happened this spring and is modeling his primary campaign after John McCain's primary campaign,” McConnell said. “And I anticipate people [who do that will] have a better result." McConnell wouldn’t make predictions about how many seats Republicans will pick up. But with some pundits saying they may even win the 10 seats they’d need to take control of the Senate, McConnell is going into November with optimism. “I would love to have the opportunity to lead a larger number of Republicans,” McConnell said. “Right now we only have 41. I think most Americans think there hasn't been much balance in Washington, certainly no checks and balances. I'm going to be the leader of a larger group, and I don't view that as a problem.” – Rick Klein
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We shall see.
Posted by: Rick McDaniel | September 2, 2010, 2:25 pm 2:25 pm
What a proud accomplishment….getting re-elected as the leader of the Do Nothing Party!
Posted by: ckagmd | September 2, 2010, 2:37 pm 2:37 pm
wow. abc reported some other news???
Posted by: Jim Rod | September 2, 2010, 3:39 pm 3:39 pm
yes, in the face of Marxism, doing nothing is a fantastic thing.
Posted by: StarveTheBeast | September 2, 2010, 4:12 pm 4:12 pm
LOL..LOL…So that is what the GOP actually calls you “Mitch”…a leader? LOL…I would have thought by now that they would have looked up the definition of that word…and deemed you unacceptable by today’s (not the past’s) standards. LOL…LOL Great job, by the way, of leading the Party of No and Obstruction. Must be difficult to “articulate that stance! LOL…LOL
Posted by: CND FOX | September 2, 2010, 5:10 pm 5:10 pm
Don’t count your chickens before they hatch ol Mitchy boy.
Posted by: apocolypse00 | September 2, 2010, 5:43 pm 5:43 pm
The Problem I have with the GOP, and their apologists, is their myopic, revisionist, inability to admit their complicity in our current financial downturn. If you ask any Republican — it is always the fault of the Dems. Never have I heard one of them admit that their Party added any debt to our situation. However, if you Wiki: Presidential debt by Party — You will find the GOP added 12.6% since 1973 and the Dems 10.7%— they have no solutions and admit no complicity!!! As if Obama( Or any President) could have overcome the Greatest Economic Catastrophe since the Great Depression in only 2 years. No, the GOP and their party drunk zombies , would have us believe that replacing Dems with fake “Austerity” bridled soundbyte Republicans, is the answer to all our ills– Even though Bush doubled the size, scope, and debt of Govt during his 8 years, and left us near total Economic collapse. The Dems are not Great, but the GOP ( and their Party of No) Offer nothing but a return to the very Policies that crashed the Economy in the first place!!!That scenario is a potential catastrophe of unparalleled propensity!!!!
Posted by: brian | September 2, 2010, 6:23 pm 6:23 pm
And the GOP says the Democrats are leading the country in the wrong direction. Which way does this McConnell character lead now?
Simple, Wrong Way Mitch!
Posted by: Tom Richardson | September 2, 2010, 6:33 pm 6:33 pm
It is politicans with attitudes like Mr. McConnell that is what is wrong with our leadership today! He feels that he is too good!
Posted by: OnTheRoad | September 2, 2010, 7:07 pm 7:07 pm
I just hope they are in for a very big surprise! HOpe all of you Dems are awakening from a deep sleep!
Posted by: Patricia Weidl | September 2, 2010, 8:39 pm 8:39 pm
I consider voting out incumbants akin to pulling weeds. Both dems and repubs…just different kinds of weeds.
Posted by: LongT | September 2, 2010, 11:19 pm 11:19 pm
I have news for Mr. McConnell….the people who are winning are the tea party people and what makes him think they want him? The republicans need not get too cocky as Mr. Boehner has because it is not the republicans who are doing well…it is the tea party who I admit favor the republicans but a little power makes people change and maybe they want their own party. did you ever think of the Mitch?
Posted by: talmag | September 3, 2010, 12:08 am 12:08 am
Nah..I’m still a dismayed Republican…and I can tell you this:
The Mitch McConnells, Haley Barbours, Sarah Palins, Boehners, Mike Huckabee’s, Glen Becks, and Newt Gingrich’s of the GOP will only spell doom. Get over your egos and either let someone new “lead” or let the respectable/educated types (not too mention normal-looking and articulate without teleprompters) like Romney or Pawlenty or Condi Rice go forward.
Posted by: EAS | September 3, 2010, 12:54 am 12:54 am
What a proud accomplishment….getting re-elected as the leader of the Do Nothing Party…..Posted by: ckagmd | Sep 2, 2010 2:37:46 PM
———————–
You certainly seem to be quite proud of obama. The ultimate example of the “Peter Principle” and the top leader of the “Do Everything Wrong” Party. Y’know, sometimes it’s better to do nothing than to do the wrong thing over and over.
Posted by: NCPilot10 | September 3, 2010, 8:59 am 8:59 am
If I’m flying my airplane, and the engine starts to sputter and seems it’s about to quit…..I think it’s wiser to find a place to put the airplane down safely rather looking for someone to blame for the engine failure. Whether it was the “Rich Greedy GOP” that kept the best AvGas for themselves or the inept workers that serviced my plane whose jobs are protected by the Unions no matter how bad they screw up, the fact is the airplane is going down. This is not a good time to try to place blame. And this is obama’s problem. He has his priorities wrong: “Be sure to blame SOMEONE before it’s too late” Once the plane is on the ground with the rubber side down, then we can figure out who caused the problem.
Posted by: NCPilot10 | September 3, 2010, 9:12 am 9:12 am
abc where is the story of the Dem Woman congrees person who got caught the other day for using funds to pay for her grandaughters schooling???
Posted by: Jim Rod | September 3, 2010, 11:06 am 11:06 am
Jeb Bush gave his Brother Florida votes long before the election with fixed ballots. Looks like Mitch got his friend Karl Rove to preform that magic fix voting machines, deny voters choice and destroy ballots that don’t have you name on it. Yes no need for the voters of Kentucky to waste their time on election day when Mitch already won the race before any vote was cased. The DOJ might want to check this out before election day as Mitch is getting cocky now. Mitch has done nothing for the people of his district and worked only for the Banks and Corporations why would the people put him back in office to do the same thing?
Posted by: airjackie | September 3, 2010, 1:11 pm 1:11 pm
When the only word you know is “NO” it’s easy to be a “leader”
Posted by: Lou | September 3, 2010, 6:50 pm 6:50 pm
airjackie …
McConnell represents a state, not a district. He is a Senator. He isn’t up for election until 2014. The “butterfly ballots” and “hanging chad” problems occurred in Democratic counties and not on voting machines.
McConnell is talking about votes for Senate Republican, hopefully Majority, Leader. You are correct about his cockiness, though.
Posted by: JJinCO | September 3, 2010, 6:57 pm 6:57 pm
Mitch McConnell…lord help us all, particularly the working class – our futures may be dim now, but they’ll be a lot more bleak if the retreads regain control.
I believe Mr Mcconnell is excellent motivation for dems going to the polls in nov.
Posted by: Jilli | September 5, 2010, 6:46 am 6:46 am
I’ll say it again. If you’re over 50-yrs-old and/or you’ve been in office more then 8-yrs, it’s time for you to go. McC has been there for 100-yrs. What has he done for the common man?
Posted by: Stlchicago | September 5, 2010, 2:26 pm 2:26 pm
This is the same guy that jumped up and down with joy when the GOP majority Supreme Court ruled corporations were just like citizens..LOL And the same Guy who signed, “Contract with America” promising to reduce lobbyist unlimited contributions in essence buying Congress! What a utter mindless hypocrite Mitch McConnell is along with the ignorant hillbilly Kentucky electorate who keep re-cycling this loon as if re-cycling there garbage.
Posted by: sybase46 | September 5, 2010, 9:28 pm 9:28 pm
Don’t be too sure about that, Senator. It’s about time all you old guys stepped aside and make room for fresh, new blood. You took us over the cliff once, we don’t want to go there again! I am a Republican who wants to throw
ALL you long-time encumbents under the bus!
Posted by: Sunnyr | September 6, 2010, 10:06 pm 10:06 pm
Mitch mcConnel is a hateful little man who will do little or nothing for the foolish people who vote him in. He supports big business over what is good for the American people. Republican voters are just too blind to see behind the smokescreen of false agendas like “family values” or “tax cuts”.
Posted by: DaveM | September 7, 2010, 8:36 am 8:36 am