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McConnell's Whatever-It-Takes Midterm Gambit May Cost Him Top Job
newsweek.com ^ | 10/19/22 | NICK REYNOLDS

Posted on 10/19/2022 9:08:23 AM PDT by cotton1706

At the height of Democratic momentum over the summer, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell forecasted a grim outlook for Republican chances to win control of the chamber amid a number of flailing candidate performances and Democratic legislative victories.

Things have shifted dramatically in the two months since McConnell's prediction. Candidates once seen as threats to GOP victory—Mehmet Oz in Pennsylvania, even incumbent Republican Senator Ron Johnson in Wisconsin—are now legitimate contenders in next month's elections. And in a likely tight Senate campaign this cycle, McConnell has taken nothing for granted, boosting even fringe candidates like conspiracy-touting Republican Don Bolduc in a favorable race for Democrats in New Hampshire.

But McConnell's win-at-all-costs mantra could come back to haunt him—particularly as the party has begun embracing a more anti-establishment brand of candidate in this year's Senate elections.

Despite Republican leadership spending an estimated $23 million in New Hampshire this cycle, Bolduc said in a Wednesday interview with Politico he would refuse to support McConnell's re-appointment as Senate majority leader, a comment that came mere days after it was revealed in campaign finance reports that McConnell's Senate Leadership Fund had injected nearly $5 million into Bolduc's campaign.

"I have said no to that question, and I'm not backing off," Bolduc responded when asked whether he would agree to support McConnell as leader.

Though he didn't commit to an alternative choice for his party's leadership pending the election's outcome, Bolduc's comments come at a time some top Republicans have already begun positioning themselves for greater influence.

Some have raised the possibility of Florida Senator Rick Scott angling for party leadership after his eyebrow-raising decision to release his own midterm agenda for the party in February, while lower members of the totem pole have begun discussing their own futures following the retirement of

(Excerpt) Read more at newsweek.com ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: elections
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I don't think McConnell's position is in danger, because he still has enough yes men to vote for him (see below story).

But it should be!

1 posted on 10/19/2022 9:08:23 AM PDT by cotton1706
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To: cotton1706

https://nypost.com/2022/10/12/mcconnell-shrugs-off-trump-says-he-will-lead-senate-gop/


2 posted on 10/19/2022 9:08:45 AM PDT by cotton1706
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To: cotton1706

Never underestimate the gopE to step in 💩. Just sayin’. Who would have thought a basement and ice cream shop campaign would landed us where we are now?


3 posted on 10/19/2022 9:12:12 AM PDT by rktman (Destroy America from within? Check! WTH? Enlisted USN 1967 to end up with this? 😕)
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To: cotton1706

The GOP is what it is. Gutless Old Party.


4 posted on 10/19/2022 9:12:14 AM PDT by Starboard
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To: cotton1706

The turtle needs to just go away...
Your time is over..


5 posted on 10/19/2022 9:15:44 AM PDT by joe fonebone (And the people said NO! The End)
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To: cotton1706
I'm fine with a 53-47 Senate with Mitch no longer leading!

Also fine with a 235-200 House with Kevin no longer leading!

6 posted on 10/19/2022 9:16:32 AM PDT by G Larry (Population Control means Killing Billions, not "limiting growth".)
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To: cotton1706

Now we know his job is safe if newsweak says otherwise


7 posted on 10/19/2022 9:26:11 AM PDT by italianquaker
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To: cotton1706
Newsweak is mischaracterizing this. McConnell is vying for races he thinks that will get Republicans to 51 or above for control of the senate, meaning he thinks that he needs to concentrate on races that will get him that number. Ergo, some other races are not getting his attention.

Its a strategy. You may not agree with it, but its just a strategy.

In my opinion, he should widen his scope, but we will see.

Good for the GOP for dumping money into New England. I am hopeful we will have some wins by sane people up there.

8 posted on 10/19/2022 9:54:39 AM PDT by KC_Conspirator
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To: italianquaker

He took 6 million out of Arizona to give to Murkowski, a blue ribbon RINO. He wants people who do what he tells them to.


9 posted on 10/19/2022 9:54:57 AM PDT by pawpawrick (I had a life once but my job ate it)
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To: cotton1706

If not McConnell, then who? I don’t like him much but who would be majority leader in his place?


10 posted on 10/19/2022 10:00:24 AM PDT by hinckley buzzard ( Resist the narrative.)
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To: cotton1706

I think the Turtle’s going to retire. He’s been waiting for Kentucky to have a new governor.


11 posted on 10/19/2022 10:06:40 AM PDT by FLT-bird
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To: hinckley buzzard

“If not McConnell, then who? I don’t like him much but who would be majority leader in his place?”

Rick Scott of Florida or John Kennedy of Louisiana.

McConnell would prefer Thune.

There’re slim pickings because McConnell has prevented anybody from getting into HIS senate that he didn’t like.


12 posted on 10/19/2022 10:06:52 AM PDT by cotton1706
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To: FLT-bird

“I think the Turtle’s going to retire. He’s been waiting for Kentucky to have a new governor.”

Yeah, since he helped remove the last one since that guy DARED to run against him for Senate in 2014 and then Trump helped him get elected governor in 2015.

Governor Behear was elected in 2019 so the earlies he will be gone is late year 2023.


13 posted on 10/19/2022 10:20:50 AM PDT by cotton1706
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To: cotton1706

That’s some good weed those liars are smoking. Everybody is a fringe candidate, not a good communist like they prefer.


14 posted on 10/19/2022 10:28:28 AM PDT by Luke21
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To: pawpawrick

“He took 6 million out of Arizona to give to Murkowski, a blue ribbon RINO. He wants people who do what he tells them to.”

Yup.


15 posted on 10/19/2022 10:35:44 AM PDT by ought-six (Multiculturalism is national suicide, and political correctness is the cyanide capsule. )
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To: cotton1706

Now’s the time...but who?


16 posted on 10/19/2022 11:02:59 AM PDT by rrrod (6)
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To: hinckley buzzard

“I don’t like him much but who would be majority leader in his place?”

Good point.

We need someone more corrupt and owned by special interests to be the majority leader—hard to find one!

Oh wait, there is the Lindsey creature....blackmailed by even more lobbyists than the turtle.

(Hint: Pick a senator randomly out of a hat—we would be much better off...)


17 posted on 10/19/2022 11:07:36 AM PDT by cgbg (Claiming that laws and regs that limit “hate speech” stop freedom of speech is “hate speech”.)
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To: cgbg

Repeal the 17th Amendment!


18 posted on 10/19/2022 11:12:24 AM PDT by Reily
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To: hinckley buzzard

Anyone would be better than McConnell.


19 posted on 10/19/2022 12:06:50 PM PDT by WMarshal (Neocons and leftards are the same species of vicious rat.)
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To: Taxman

Ping


20 posted on 10/19/2022 12:45:57 PM PDT by Taxman (SAVE AMERICA! VOTE REPUBLICAN IN 2022, 2023 AND 2024!)
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