Trump Rebuts McConnell’s Grim Senate Prediction

Following Senator Minority Leader Mitch McConnell’s (R-KY) remarks about Republicans having a better chance of flipping the House than the Senate in the midterm election, Trump took to social media to rebut those sentiments. On Thursday, Sen. McConnell’s comments on the Senate races were:

 “I think there’s probably a greater likelihood the House flips than the Senate. The Senate races are very different. They’re statewide. Candidate quality has a lot to do with the outcome.”

Conservative reactions were mixed, some trying to cushion the landing of the grim predictions, like Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) stating McConnell was “trying to wake people up.” Others were not as forgiving, with Fox News host, Sean Hannity, accusing McConnell of being “content to leave them out to dry and fend for themselves,” speaking of Republican Senate candidates.

Trumpian late Saturday post in which former President vehemently criticized Sen. McConnell. Written on Truth Social

“Why do Republicans Senators allow a broken down hack politician, Mitch McConnell, to openly disparage hard working Republican candidates for the United States Senate. It is a huge insult to the honor of leadership. Spend more of his time and money on this. helping them get elected, and less time helping his crazy wife and family get rich on China!”

Both McConnell and Trump are right. McConnell is needed to lead more. This is what McConnell should be saying the quiet part out loud DoesThe candidates are vilified. McConnell, being pragmatic and concerning himself with things like “electability,” Learn moreHe has a lot of work ahead of him, and SuperPAC might be too spread out.

Republicans have begun to decide where the Benjamins should go now that the field has almost been set. McConnell-affiliated Senate Leadership Fund holds $150 million for fall advertising buys. Trump’s Save America PAC controls over $100 million. The National Republican Senatorial Committee has cancelled $13.5 million worth of ad spend since August 1, which is causing concern for GOP strategists. AdImpact’s ad tracking system reports that cuts were made in Pennsylvania ($7.5million), Arizona ($3.5million), Wisconsin ($2.5million), Nevada ($1.5million)

It appears that McConnell’s comment on “candidate quality” might be squarely aimed at the Trump-nods, soliciting the visceral Trump social media response. Although Trump’s endorsement was a valuable one in the primaries, it is not clear if his impact on the electorate after the presidency has been demonstrated. The GOP candidates in crucial races are falling in fundraising and the polls, which means more spending is required to fight off Dems from less-competitive states.

Just $28 Million was reserved by the Senate Leadership Fund for television advertising in support of J.D. Vance was elected in Ohio. This seat is considered safe by many Republicans, even though it was won by Trump eight points. Trump-endorsed Senate nominees are struggling in much more competitive states than Ohio, such as Mehmet Oz in Pennsylvania and Herschel Walker in Georgia. The Senate Leadership Fund has reserved $37.1 million in airtime for Walker’s GA race.

Trump Rally
AP Photo/Ben Gray

Trump-backed Blake Masters, who won the AZ primary just two weeks ago, is trailing Sen Mark Kelly (D) by eight points. Masters is now optimistic that his Super-PAC will help him, having once wanted to oust McConnell from the Senate leadership. This was especially important since Arizona, which lost out on 3.5million, was an NRSC ad cut state.

Trump and McConnell control hundreds of millions in political advertising dollars. They can complain loudly about anything they like, even one another. Walker and Masters have the perfect cadence. They play well with Trump, McConnell and put aside their personal and political differences to win the Senate.

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